House in Yoro by Airhouse Design Office
A bedroom and bathroom are hidden inside a white box in this converted warehouse by Japanese architects Airhouse Design Office (+ slideshow).
![House in Yoro by Airside Design Office House in Yoro by Airside Design Office](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/03/dezeen_House-in-Yoro-by-Airside-Design-Office_19.jpg)
Located in Yoro, a small town in Gifu Prefecture, the main space of the house is on the first floor of the converted warehouse, accessed via a staircase inside the ground-floor garage.
![House in Yoro by Airside Design Office House in Yoro by Airside Design Office](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/03/dezeen_House-in-Yoro-by-Airside-Design-Office_15.jpg)
Airhouse Design Office inserted a large white box in the centre of the space, creating private rooms inside and a loft above.
![House in Yoro by Airside Design Office House in Yoro by Airside Design Office](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/03/dezeen_House-in-Yoro-by-Airside-Design-Office_6.jpg)
Designed for a couple who are keen on cooking, the focal point of the house is the large kitchen.
![House in Yoro by Airside Design Office House in Yoro by Airside Design Office](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/03/dezeen_House-in-Yoro-by-Airside-Design-Office_11.jpg)
The kitchen units were made from ash, while artificial marble was used on the worktops and table.
![House in Yoro by Airside Design Office House in Yoro by Airside Design Office](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/03/dezeen_House-in-Yoro-by-Airside-Design-Office_20.jpg)
To minimise heat loss in the large space, a thick layer of urethane foam was added to the walls and ceiling before they were covered in plywood panels.
![House in Yoro by Airside Design Office House in Yoro by Airside Design Office](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/03/dezeen_House-in-Yoro-by-Airside-Design-Office_21.jpg)
The loft is accessed by a wide white staircase and used as a children's bedroom.
![House in Yoro by Airside Design Office House in Yoro by Airside Design Office](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/03/dezeen_House-in-Yoro-by-Airside-Design-Office_17.jpg)
Inside the box is the main bedroom, painted a deep shade of purple, a lime green bathroom and a separate toilet.
![House in Yoro by Airside Design Office House in Yoro by Airside Design Office](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/03/dezeen_House-in-Yoro-by-Airside-Design-Office_16.jpg)
Airhouse Design Office was founded by architect Keiichi Kiriyama in 2009 and is based in Ogaki, a city in Gifu Prefecture.
![House in Yoro by Airside Design Office House in Yoro by Airside Design Office](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/03/dezeen_House-in-Yoro-by-Airside-Design-Office_7.jpg)
Other houses in Japan we've featured lately include a building based on the Fibonacci mathematical sequence and an extension featuring tree trunks that stretch from floor to ceiling– see all Japanese houses.
![House in Yoro by Airside Design Office House in Yoro by Airside Design Office](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/03/dezeen_House-in-Yoro-by-Airside-Design-Office_10.jpg)
Photographs are by Toshiyuki Yano.
Here's some more information from the architect:
House in Yoro
One of our client's major requirements was for a living space where the presence of the family would always be felt. In response, we devised a single-room layout without columns that took advantage of the distinctive features of the existing warehouse.
![House in Yoro by Airside Design Office House in Yoro by Airside Design Office](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/03/dezeen_House-in-Yoro-by-Airside-Design-Office_8.jpg)
A large kitchen was installed to cater to the needs of the food-loving husband-and-wife couple. We then conceived the entire living space by taking the kitchen as a focal point, with a mix of various other activities and functions unfolding around it.
![House in Yoro by Airside Design Office House in Yoro by Airside Design Office](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/03/dezeen_House-in-Yoro-by-Airside-Design-Office_9.jpg)
Within this single-roomed space, we also created a box-like structure with a loft bedroom for the children on top of it, and private quarters including a bedroom and bathroom inside it.
![House in Yoro by Airside Design Office House in Yoro by Airside Design Office](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/03/dezeen_House-in-Yoro-by-Airside-Design-Office_18.jpg)
In order to minimize heat loss within this massive space, a 100mm layer of urethane foam was added to the walls, floors and ceiling, while a combined heat and power device was installed in the living room to heat water and provide floor heating.
![House in Yoro by Airside Design Office House in Yoro by Airside Design Office](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/03/dezeen_House-in-Yoro-by-Airside-Design-Office_12.jpg)
All openings were designed by making use of existing sash windows and doors, while glass panes were all given a double-glazing treatment to improve insulation.
![House in Yoro by Airside Design Office House in Yoro by Airside Design Office](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/03/dezeen_House-in-Yoro-by-Airside-Design-Office_14.jpg)
The façade of the building was left intact in an effort to blend in with the surrounding neighborhood, as well as due to cost considerations.
![House in Yoro by Airside Design Office House in Yoro by Airside Design Office](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/03/dezeen_House-in-Yoro-by-Airside-Design-Office_5.gif)
Above: ground floor plan
The result was a comfortable, luxurious home that made effective use of existing features while also avoiding excessive expense.
![House in Yoro by Airside Design Office House in Yoro by Airside Design Office](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/03/dezeen_House-in-Yoro-by-Airside-Design-Office_3.gif)
Above: first floor plan
Location: Yoro, Gifu
Date of Completion: May 2012
Principal Use: Private House
![House in Yoro by Airside Design Office House in Yoro by Airside Design Office](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/03/dezeen_House-in-Yoro-by-Airside-Design-Office_4.gif)
Above: mezzanine plan
Structure: Steel Frame
Site area: 1027.34 sq m
Total Floor Area: 131.58 sq m
![House in Yoro by Airside Design Office House in Yoro by Airside Design Office](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/03/dezeen_House-in-Yoro-by-Airside-Design-Office_1.gif)
Above: section
![House in Yoro by Airside Design Office House in Yoro by Airside Design Office](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/03/dezeen_House-in-Yoro-by-Airside-Design-Office_2.gif)
Above: section