located on a hill overlooking lake biwa, japan, ‘courtyard house at wani’ is a single-story residence designed for a dog lover who likes outdoor activities. all the rooms are organized around a courtyard, generating a polygonic-shaped cozy outdoor space with an introverted character. 

‘we would be happy if a favorite place is chosen according to the season and time, creating a generous and comfortable living atmosphere like drinking coffee at a table overlooking lake biwa in the morning and taking a nap on a large sofa near the courtyard in the afternoon,’ added the architects.all images courtesy of design it

the owner’s request was to live with his dogs and fully enjoy the scenery and air of wani. design it (see more here) created a single-story structure, interrupted by a central void (which forms the courtyard), to maintain the outdoor feeling. meanwhile, the architects punctured the outside shell of the structure creating a big rectangular window, to preserve the view which opens towards the lake biwa.

the courtyard becomes a part of the house, creating an intimate and comfortable semi-open space with an indoor atmosphere. in this dwelling, the entrance, the floor-to-ceiling windows, and all the rooms face the courtyard and so, daily life is naturally centered around it. 

multi-sized angles form the polygonal courtyard

all the rooms face the yard

name: courtyard house at wani architects:  design it

design team: takashi ikeda and takako ikeda

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina petridou | designboom

a diverse digital database that acts as a valuable guide in gaining insight and information about a product directly from the manufacturer, and serves as a rich reference point in developing a project or scheme.