Slanted Family Home in Fukuoka, Japan

Named the N House, this Roote design is built into the slope of a paved hill in Fukuoka, Japan. The family home is sectioned into two connected volumes, one clad in horizontal planks, the other in vertical lines of wood. The dramatic effect is fitting given the building’s location adjacent to a steep roadside.

Within the home, the floor is leveled with interior steps separating the living spaces. The uppermost story includes the parents’ bedroom and a study nook, while the lower level contains the children’s room and common areas. More public spaces include the classic tatami room and the open plan den, kitchen, and dining area. The soothing tatami room leads outside to a dining patio and garden, where the whole family can enjoy a good meal and a green space of their own.