Kusatsu House, blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors

Japanese architecture studio, ALTS DESIGN OFFICE designed Kusatsu House in Shiga, Japan, which communicates with nature and still ensures the privacy of its occupants.



Constructing architecture in the Japanese urban fabric always requires a considerable capacity to adapt to the contingencies of the setting: small blocks, tight spaces and the desire of clients to protect their privacy.
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These premises also apply to Moriyama in the prefecture of Shiga on the island of Honshu. This is where architecture firm, ALTS DESIGN OFFICE designed a two-storey house, mainly built in timber on an L-shaped block, positioned next to a parking lot and in front of an apartment block.





Although the south exposure has been completely sealed off by a concrete wall, to protect the occupants from indiscreet eyes in the neighbourhood, the project still manages to incorporate an outdoor space in the home. What the ALTS DESIGN OFFICE architects did was bring the garden inside the home. They came up with a “green” pathway, a glazed internal patio, which all the rooms face onto, giving the house plenty of natural light even with very few openings onto the street front.



They have blurred the lines borders between interior and exterior thanks to the sliding French windows right along the ground floor. So, in this project the garden turns into an integral part of the living zone, giving it a relaxing, laid-back green feel.

Project: ALTS DESIGN OFFICE 
Architects Member: Sumiou Mizumoto / Yoshitaka Kuga 
Gross area: 116.50 m² 
Location: Shiga/Japan 
Year: 2014 
Photographer: Yuta Yamada