case study house kenji yanagawa

The House with the Innovative Garage Roof in Japan

You might not believe it, but a garage roof is possible. This would be ideal especially if you have multiple cars but do not have enough parking space.

Car owners consider their cars a valuable possession. Well, that should really be the case because aside from being useful, they tend to create a special connection to the owners and they are of course pricey. No wonder car owners will look for ways to ensure their car’s safety. That is why there are garages.

But for the Case Study House in Kurakuen, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, parking their car is not the same as the usual garage. They are more like exhibiting their cars.

The house is carved into the hillside with a narrow footprint thus reducing environmental impact. The location of the house-made it impossible to use a conventional garage for three cars. Hence the idea of a garage roof.

Hence, architect Kenji Yanagawa found a solution by using a vertical elevator. With this, the owner’s cars- a Ferrari, Porsche and a Honda S2000 are exhibited on top of the platform which is visible inside the house.

Using this kind of car park “blends with the physical restrictions of the site with respect for the visual context and the family’s priorities”.

This is the facade of the house. Note that it is perched on an elevated area. This is one of the main reason why the designers excluded the idea of a conventional garage and adopted the garage roof instead.

And this is how they designed it. Three platforms comprise this vertical elevator. This is quite a car show, right?

The owner decides which car he wants to use and just adjust the elevator to level the platform to the ground. Cool, huh?

Aside from being well lighted and aside from the vertical elevator, there is a plant that peeps into a void between the garage roof and the pedestrian gate.

Somehow this reminds us of the house with the tree inside it. Nevertheless, this gives the illusion that this space is a parking space and not part of a house.

The other side of the area reveals a stairwell that leads to the lower part of the house where the living spaces are found.

Here is a view of the garage roof at the top of the house.

And it levels with the upper road where the car come out. Look at the view from this angle here!

Wooden decking and glass railings are used for this terrace that overlooks to the panoramic view of the city. And what a nighttime view!

The interior of the house is a beautiful modern minimalist style in white. Notice that plant inside the house which adds a touch of freshness into space.

From a glass wall, the cityscape is visible and is a breathtaking view!

But on the other side, instead of a cityscape, one will see the cars perched on their platforms. It looks a car exhibit for sure!

There is also a terrace in the house where one can sit, relax and spend time alone. This was the same terrace pictured in number 8.

What an amazing innovation right? We know you also want a garage roof like this one. Everyone does, well except for those who have only one car and who prefer the conventional garage style.

But as for car lovers, a vertical elevator is one of their wildest dreams.

Related Posts

A Striking Home To Challenge The Status Quo

Japanese architect Kenji Yanagawa created this innovative home with the aim of establishing an interesting line of sight and creating a break in the uniformity of the residential buildings in the neighbourhood. The client who commissioned the architect intended to challenge the status quo, breaking the monotony while still taking into consideration the architectural character of the surrounding homes, all of which where built about 40 years prior to the redevelopment of this now highly unique home. The finished result is a striking facade and minimalist-inspired structure that plays with the power of light and depth.

The New Kid on the Block

There's no questioning the bold nature of this recently built home! This glaring white mass made of reinforced concrete is entirely unexpected on this row of uniform, ordered homes. However, despite the bold, blocky statement that this window-less facade makes, it's still characterized by a sense of openness due to the way it appears to hovers above a welcoming open space at street level. This cut-out also offers a convenient sheltered spot for parking a car. Moreover, the way that the home is positioned at the front of the lot creates a sense of openness and friendliness with the passing street, taking what could be a very closed-off design and turning it into a friendly, forward, hello! . 

At first glance, this design may appear showy, but it's also completely practical: as a garden often does best on the South side of a home, this home has been pushed forward towards the street – the North side of the lot – in order to accommodate a garden in the warmer, sunnier half of the lot. 

If you get a kick out of this structure's ability to play with old and new, have a look at  this ideabook featuring a home that's historic on the outside and unexpectedly modern on the inside!

A night view

The brilliant, reflective white has turned dark grey as the sun sets, and as the house offers a minimalist, unadorned surface, the exterior walls seem to blend almost seamlessly with the dusky sky. At night, it's easy to see the the attention-grabbing tree that's growing up in the facade's niche, providing a slide of nature in the least expected of places! The illumination causes the space to glow, infusing the nature-inspired space with a lively golden light!

On the left, a glossy driveway rests under the rectangular overhang provided by the cantilevered design of the home – just one of the many instances where this home's avant-garde design is as practical as it is adventurous. 

The parking spot

It's not every day that you come across a  garage as glamorous as this one. There are no bells and whistles, but this minimalist space is striking in its simplicity. Notice how the smooth concrete floor is intermingled with smooth, round rocks, creating a contrast of textures that brings variety and texture to the space. 

The backyard

In the back of the home, a metallic stairway descends from the white exterior walls, providing access to the backyard landing where the plants are sure to be benefitting from all of the sunlight reflecting off of the brilliant white walls of the home. Another staircase below – this one picking up the home's pure white theme – descends all the way to street level, once again turning an imposing structure into a friendly and practical addition to the neighborhood.

A night view of the deck

Here, a second-level  deck  was created in order to give the family access to outdoor space, allowing their children to play in the outdoors and forming a space where the family can host outdoor gatherings while still enjoying a sense of privacy from nearby homes. At night, the way this home is illuminated draws attention to the solid lines and and sharp angles that characterize its design, making for a clean, fresh, and brilliant backyard.

A minimalist living room

The most dominant aspect of this room is not what's in it, but rather, what's not! This living room affords ample space for play, projects, and other family activities, while offering just enough furniture to make the space useful as a living room. The smooth wooden floor acts as a wide open stage for each piece of furniture, allowing every single piece to shine in its own spotlight of uniqueness.

Long lines throughout the room draw your attention to its generous dimensions – a bench along the left pulls your gaze into the distance, and a large crossbeam in the back of the room draws attention to both its height and its width. The white ceiling only enhances this spacious feeling by appearing to fade nonchalantly into the space overhead.  

Need help with your home project? Get in touch!

A brilliant dining space

Despite the fact that the majority of the exterior walls feature no windows, the interior of the home is surprisingly well lit, due to the shaft of light that enters through the courtyard where the tree is growing. This minimalist dining room benefits from this brilliant light, so bright that it almost renders the polished dining room table invisible. 

There's something to be said for the less-is-more, minimalist approach when it comes to creating a peaceful, clean, and organized dining room. If this home's got you inspired to start downsizing,  here's an ideabook to help you do it!

A bedroom of textures

For the first time in the tour, you see texture that goes beyond smooth and polished . In the  bedroom , the grainy texture of concrete covers the walls, while a plush rugs fills the bedroom floor with a soft look. With two beds pushed together side by side, a bedside plant, ample views of the outside landscape, and a bedside reading light, this simple bedroom has everything that you need – and nothing that you don't. 

A bathroom with a private view

This unusual  bathroom features a tub right next to the window – because the house receives its light from an interior-facing courtyard, this family enjoys the luxury of a bathtub window that's completely private! The rest of the bathroom enjoys this light, as the walls have been erased and replaced with transparent glass partitions that allow light – as well as your line of vision – to pass through the room.

• Open in a new tab

Highlights from our magazine

Homify - modify your home.

Browse through millions of photos with the homify app!

kenji yanagawa's case study house frames city and luxury cars

kenji yanagawa brings japanese tradition to george's pie

kenji yanagawa brings japanese tradition to ‘george’s pie’

photo © kazushi hirano, atelier k

all images courtesy of kenji yanagawa architects and associates

‘goerge’s pie’ is an australian-influenced deli cafe in kobe, japan that maintains its native identity with a design by osaka-based architect  kenji yanagawa . divided into two levels, the overlaid plans recall a typical 4 1/2 tatami mat layout extruded. the first floor is cut into thirds comprising an outdoor area, the service area, and the kitchen behind. perpendicular segments protrude these programs as bathroom and stairs to the north, and a patio with seating to the south. upstairs, the bathroom is offset from the one below, extending the east-west figure. its width defines a double-height space above the cafeteria, enclosed to one side by a glass curtain wall, and to the other by a railing at the edge of the seating area. this void is only penetrated by a small bridge that leads to an outdoor balcony. the transparent enclosure makes the spaces feel unified, and allows light to infiltrate the space. inside a singular piloti serves as a reminder of the organizing system amidst the open plan.

upstairs seating overlooks the landscape and courtyard; outdoor accommodation extends beyond the enclosed service area

large openings in the opaque building shell provide light and views to the landscape, while articulating spaces in the tatami mat proportions. a penetration in the north-south direction defines  the entrance, courtyard and seating terraces. a vertical cut in the roof outlines the perimeter of the central lawn. this is repeated at the ground level by stairs leading to the seating balcony, a pedestrian pathway, and the entry vestibule. beyond, a tiled area on the ground floor delineates the area for outdoor eating of the same dimensions of the bar above. the repetition of proportions, and layering of intersecting spaces turns a solid mass into a spacious volume capable of accommodating a variety of programs, regardless of the culture it superimposes.

a singular piloti interrupts the space, denoting the proportion of a half tatami mat at the intersection of the outdoor seating area and kitchen below

(left): a patio and a balcony provide seating at the southern third of the courtyard

(right): a small courtyard bounded by stairs and a foot path evokes movement in contrast to the sedentary nature of the patio beyond

the space is composed as an extrusion of the 4 1/2 tatami mat arrangement

an inviting glow distinguishes the entrance to ‘george’s pie’

kenji yanagawa (3)

Product library.

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.

• mass studies (24)
• serpentine gallery pavilion (47)
• temporary pavilions (423)
• architecture in the philippines (23)
• brutalist architecture (36)
• concrete architecture and design (704)
• residential architecture and interiors (3861)
• architecture in norway (177)
• carbon neutrality? (149)
• snohetta (179)
• where people work (858)
• architecture in the czech republic (137)
• brick architecture (311)
• christian kerez (4)

designboom will always be there for you

Case Study House Program

The case study house program: origins, meanings, and protagonists, on the participation of northern california architects to the case study house program.

________________________________________

Case Study House #3

Information Description Plan Photos Architect’s Biography

Case Study House #19

Case study house #26.

Information Description Plans Photos Architect’s Biography

Case Study House #27

References & further reading, bay area architects’ designs for the, case study house program, 1949 – 1963.

By Pierluigi Serraino

The Case Study House program and the magazine Arts and Architecture are two inseparable twins in the historical narratives of California Modernism in its post-war phase. Common denominator of both was John Entenza (1905-1984), as editor from 1940 to 1962 of the magazine California Arts and Architecture, a title he changed in 1945 to Arts and Architecture, gave an international manner — both in terms of its compellingly lanky graphics and its cerebral content — to what had been mostly a regional periodical of limited distribution. Both the magazine and the Case Study House Program he masterminded hinged upon the recognition that the architecture of his time was rooted in technology, a symbolic source of its outer expression in the public realm.  

The long span, steel, joinery, plywood, modularity, open plan, car mobility, aluminum, and glazing systems, were the tools and the lexicon of the post-war architect and the citizen of a technological society. For Entenza, the environmental habitat of California had to arise from the civilian application of the radical innovations in mechanical systems, new materials, and building science advancements gained during the World War II, especially because of the military industry’s major presence in California.

The Case Study House program started as Entenza’s personal project, partially financed through his own resources, that lasted two decades. This initiative was the game-changer in the authoritative aura that California Modernism acquired worldwide. Entenza led the program from 1945 to 1962 till he moved to Chicago to head the Graham Foundation. David Travers continued it from 1962 until its end in 1966. They both handpicked the architects that were going to be included in the program, absent of a truly objective criteria or checklist. While Entenza wrote the program’s manifesto himself and published it, the houses and architects chosen for inclusion are an eclectic mix of design expressions.

While most of the built (and unbuilt) residential projects of the Case Study House program are located in Southern California, the design community behind this renown cultural initiative is far from regional. In fact, the roaster of architects Entenza and Travers selected during their respective tenure offers a revealing picture of both the composite nature of signatures called to fulfill the promises of the January 1st , 1945, manifesto and of what flavor of modernism was being disseminated for the post-war home.

Some household names are from California- William Wurster from Stockton, Ray Kaiser from Sacramento, Pierre Koenig from San Francisco- as well as some lesser-known, such as Ed Killingsworth. John Rex, Worley Wong, and Calvin Straub, among others. A sizeable group of CSH architects was from out of state and had a cultural connection with the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, the legendary design school founded by Eliel Saarinen. From that milieu, the list is truly impressive: Charles Eames, Eero Saarinen, Ralph Rapson, Don Knorr. Others were from other parts of the country and landed either for family reasons or for college to Southern California. Additionally, others

came from Europe, most notably Richard Neutra from Vienna, Julius Ralph Davidson from Berlin, and Raphael Soriano from Rhodes, Greece. In this eclectic mix, various gradations of common themes- relationship with WWII technology, and material, open planning, one-level single-family homes, and an overall permeable relationship between indoor and outdoor, found specific manifestations in the talent of these creatives. These prototypes for living were conceived as models to shape much of post-war living for present and future generations.

Four teams of Bay Area architects were involved in the CSH Program. Under the Entenza’s era, there was the now-demolished CSH #3 in Los Angeles designed and built in 1945 by William Wurster and Theodore Bernardi and the unbuilt CSH #19 by Don Knorr for a site in the San Francisco South Bay in 1957. During the Traver’s lead, Beverley David Thorne’s CSH #26 was realized in 1962 in San Rafael, whereas CSH #27 by Campbell & Wong, in association with Don Allen Fong, of 1963 for a site in Smoke Rise, New Jersey, remained on paper. These Bay Area contributions have been intermittently acknowledged in the publications surrounding this one-of-a-kind initiative.

Yet, they provide documentary evidence of the commitment of the local community of designers to offering updated architectural propositions consistent with the changing needs of the California, and American, post-war society.

Past Exhibitions

Architecture + the City Festival

Whitney Young Jr.

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

Case Study: Pull the Plug on a Project with an Uncertain Future?

• Chris Mahowald

A real estate developer considers whether to push forward with an office complex in the midst of Covid-19.

Alex Kozak was sitting in his Moscow apartment waiting for his colleague, Nikolai Krylov, to join their Zoom call. When his video window popped up, Nikolai announced with a smile, “I have good news!”

• CE Cody Evans is the founder of Homecoming Capital, an investment firm focused on fighting climate change.
• CM Chris Mahowald is the managing partner of RSF Partners, a series of real estate private equity funds, and a lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Partner Center

• Hispanoamérica
• Work at ArchDaily
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy

Dogchitecture: WE Architecture Designs a Center That Challenges Traditional Animal Shelters

• Written by Ella Comberg

Copenhagen firm WE Architecture has completed a proposal for a “Dog Center” in Moscow that challenges traditional notions of animal shelters. Nestled in the countryside, the one-story pavilion will rely on a series of courtyards divided by pergolas that disappear into the landscape. The firm notes that the courtyards, which provide enclosed outdoor space for the dogs , allow the center “to avoid the 'jail-like' fencing which is often associated with dog shelters."

WE, in collaboration with MASU Planning , hopes to create a “healthy and inspiring environment for sheltered dogs and for the different people who will visit and work at the Center.” The project accomplishes its atmospheric goals by complimenting steel pillars with wooden rafters. The rafters extend to create an exterior overhang which functions as “a sun screen in summer time and as an exterior cover/hallway on rainy days.” As visitors approach the building, the green roof , which sits atop the wooden rafters, is meant to serve as a “fifth facade” that can blend in easily with its wooded surroundings. Extensive outdoor seating space bleeds into greenery, inviting both human and animal recreation.

Design Team

Project year, photographs.

News via: WE Architecture

Project gallery

Materials and Tags

• Sustainability

世界上最受欢迎的建筑网站现已推出你的母语版本!

想浏览archdaily中国吗, you've started following your first account, did you know.

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.