House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects
Every room inside this concrete house in Kyoto by Torafu Architects is accessible for a resident in a wheelchair (+ slideshow).
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_1sq.jpg)
Both a lift and staircase connect the ground floor with the central living room and kitchen on the floor above, where worktops are set at a reduced height.
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_2.jpg)
Smaller rooms surround this living/dining room on every side and feature sloping ceilings that don't all correspond with the shape of the roof outside.
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_2a.jpg)
A large square aperture reveals the location of a courtyard along one side of the house, with openings that let natural light into the rooms beyond and below.
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_3.jpg)
Other recent projects by Torafu Architects include a shelf with a secret drawer and a skincare shop with stained wooden surfaces that look like marble.
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_4.jpg)
See all our stories about Torafu Architects »
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See more Japanese houses on Dezeen »
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Photography is by Daici Ano.
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_7.jpg)
Here's a project description from Torafu Architects:
House in Kitaoji
Located in a quiet housing estate in Kyoto, this house was designed with a hard concrete outer shell in order to protect the client need for privacy from the outside, as well as for accessibility in a wheelchair-bound lifestyle.
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_8.jpg)
Firstly, to protect the privacy of the family, we built walls along the site boundary to elevate the main living space, which is maximised on the 2nd floor.
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_9.jpg)
We designed a large central space with individual rooms, wet areas and circulation and other utility spaces surrounding it, to ensure a distance is kept well from the outside.
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_10.jpg)
This compact formation also eliminated the need for passageways in this house.
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_11.jpg)
In contrast with the outer wall of this building, we used various kinds of furniture at the central space as partitions to softly separate the internal areas.
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_12.jpg)
Avoiding windows along the road, we located spaces with open ceilings and a terrace inside the building for light and ventilation.
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_13.jpg)
This way, the occupants can feel the outside anywhere from within this central space.
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_14.jpg)
Considering the environment of the site resulted in a building with a gabled form.
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_15.jpg)
We folded the roofs of the small rooms around the central space into the yard to achieve a funnel shaped cross section, which allows light to enter easily into centre of the house.
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_16.jpg)
We also individualised the rooms by giving each a different ceiling height.
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_17.jpg)
Although unseen from the outside, within the spaces of these different rooms under this big roof, a bright and open space was made possible.
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_18.jpg)
Principle use: House
Facility design: Daiko(Lightings)
Structural design: Takashi Manda Structural Design
Production: Kyoto kensetsu
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_20.gif)
Above: ground floor plan
Building site: Kyoto
Site area: 139.39m2
Total floor area: 133.93m2
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_19.gif)
Above: first floor plan
Number of stories: 2F
Structure: RC
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_21.gif)
Above: section A-A
Design period: 2010.07-2011.10
Construction period: 2011.11-2012.08
![House in Kitaoji by Torafu Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/08/dezeen_House-in-Kitaoji-by-Torafu-Architects_22.gif)
Above: section B-B