House in Daigo by Takehiko Suzuki: Harmonizing Family Life and Nature in Kyoto

In the southwestern region of Kyoto, a serene panorama of the Daigo mountains suddenly emerges beyond a dense residential neighborhood filled with both traditional and contemporary houses. Here, a young family who had moved across Japan for work decided to settle, drawn by the interplay of expansive natural scenery and intimate, personal space. This unique relationship between the mountains and the family’s daily life became the guiding vision for the House in Daigo, designed by renowned architect Takehiko Suzuki.

Architectural Concept: Connecting Scales of Space

At the heart of the design is the idea of connecting two contrasting scales—the vastness of the mountains and the domestic intimacy of family life. This concept was realized through the form of the space itself.

The living room, the central hub of the house, is conceived as a right-angled isosceles triangle. Above it, a triangular single-sided roof mirrors the plan’s geometry. The room opens toward the mountains, creating a visual and spatial dialogue between interior and exterior. Surrounding rooms—including bedrooms, bathrooms, and storage—are organized within an L-shaped two-story volume that frames the triangular living room. This design allows the living room to open inward toward the corner of the L-shape, creating a layered spatial experience.

Spatial Experience: Gradation and Connection

The architectural form shapes a gradational relationship between the mountains and the family. For instance, the dining table sits at the 45-degree corner of the triangular living room, facing a large window that brings the mountains into daily life. Mealtime becomes an immersive experience where the presence of nature feels tangible and intimate.

A spiral staircase located at the inside corner of the L-shaped volume provides a dramatic perspective: from the base, the mountain range stretches beyond a horizontal living-room window; ascending the staircase transforms the perception into a three-dimensional journey through the internal spaces of the house.

The triangular pyramidal void beneath the roof further enhances spatial connectivity. Rooms at the inside corner of the L-shaped volume feel interconnected, while spaces at the ends of the L-shape maintain privacy. Simultaneously, the mountains alternately fade and reappear in view, creating a dynamic sense of distance between family members and nature.

A Contemporary Living Space

The House in Daigo explores a modern approach to living, reflecting a contemporary reality where the perception of distance—between people, nature, and the city—is increasingly fluid. The design highlights moments when the mountains feel as near as family and instances when family feels as distant as the horizon, offering a nuanced, poetic interpretation of home life in a digital and pandemic-influenced era.