House in Ito, Japan

Planned as a winter retreat, the house is small in area, but extends over three storeys. The lowest floor is in reinforced concrete and is built into the sloping site, assuming the function of a retaining wall. The two upper floors are in timber construction. The ground floor is used for everyday activities and is divided by light sliding wood screens. Even in a closed position they convey a sense of spatial continuity. The window detailed on the opposite page consists of a number of sliding elements. The outermost layer is a timber shutter that provides protection against wind and rain. The next layer is an insect screen. This is followed by a glazed door; and the innermost element is a paper-filled screen that serves to modulate the light.