Mandokoro House designed by Kenta Eto Atelier is a minimal residence located in Oita, Japan that hides an unconventional interior behind its protective façade.
The building is characterized by horizontal metal cladding extending into the roof of the structure. An opening at the roof ridge serves as a skylight to provide natural light into the space. Split-level flooring provides segmentation within the programming, utilizing concrete floors to create consistency throughout. Steel is used as an accent material, and constitutes the walkway on the upper level.
A sunken living room and kitchen are found at ground level, while a thin bridge floating over the atrium connects the second-floor bedrooms through a series of openings — encouraging activities and physical exercise. Fabric partitions can be used to temporarily divide the spaces.
"While eliminating the clutter to a certain extent, we wanted to cut out a moment in this peaceful everyday life and the view of the area and bring them in and incorporate a buffer space into the living space as a comfortable receptacle where you feel like being semi-outside,’" say the architects.
