this recently completed dwelling by ALTS design office has been built to feel like the inside of a renovated warehouse.
located in japan’s shiga prefecture, ‘ishibe house’ was completed for a
young family who enjoyed the idea of flexible open plan living offered
by converted former industrial spaces. however, essential modifications
such as heat insulation and construction maintenance mean that building a
new home from scratch is often comparable in terms of price to
renovating an existing structure.
name: ishibe house
location: shiga, japan
architects: alts design office — sumiou mizumoto / yoshitaka kuga
construction: wood
number of storeys: 2
gross area: 119.24 sqm
completed: september, 2015
after finding a suitable plot in an area enclosed by residential roads, a two-storey dwelling was designed comprising a diverse range of productive spaces. ‘we made a building like an existing warehouse at first, and designed it carefully as if the client renovated it,’ explain sumiou mizumoto and yoshitaka kuga of ALTS design office. ‘we created open spaces so that the client can arrange them to suit their lifestyle.’
the lower level is accessed through a large porch that leads into the home’s kitchen.
a dining table is positioned at the heart of the space, alongside an
adjacent sink unit and further cooking appliances. a staircase connects
the dwelling, providing access to the home’s primary living
accommodation above. the lounge is joined by the family’s sleeping
quarters and an area for private study.
from designboom