This property is located in a crowded residential district, with a parking lot on the west that is likely to be developed and a newspaper distribution center to the north that operates from early in the morning.
Given those circumstances, Naoko Horibe decided to design the house around a central courtyard and surround the property with walls, closing it off from the street.
To avoid pressing in too much on the narrow alley to the east, architect kept the height as low as possible and placed the courtyard’s autumn flowering cherry so it would be visible to people walking down the alley.
The interior is minimalistic and breezy, even though we kept the number of doors low to ensure privacy.
House in Takatsuki, image courtesy Naoko Horibe | Photo by Hiroyuki Hirai
House in Takatsuki, image courtesy Naoko Horibe | Photo by Hiroyuki Hirai
House in Takatsuki, image courtesy Naoko Horibe | Photo by Hiroyuki Hirai
House in Takatsuki, image courtesy Naoko Horibe | Photo by Hiroyuki Hirai
House in Takatsuki, image courtesy Naoko Horibe | Photo by Hiroyuki Hirai
+ Project credits / data
Project: House in Takatsuki
Architect: Naoko Horibe | http://naoko-horibe.com/
Location: Takatsuki-Shi, Osaka, Japan
Primary usage: Private House
Structure: Wooden construction, two stories above ground
Client: Couple with a child
Site area: 99.50 m²
Building area: 52.17 m²
Total floor space: 81.98 m²
Photographer: Hiroyuki Hirai
House in Takatsuki - Level 1 floor plan, drawing courtesy Naoko Horibe
House in Takatsuki - Level 2 floor plan, drawing courtesy Naoko Horibe
+ All images and drawings courtesy Naoko Horibe | Photo by Hiroyuki Hirai
