In a leafy residential neighborhood of nagoya in japan, Tomoaki Uno has realized a fortress-like dwelling called ‘takamine-cho house’. The two-story, 190 sqm residence occupies a sloped corner site. the program is flipped upside down, with the bedrooms contained in the lower level and all the social functions of the house located on the upper floor. the upper level features a private courtyard, which brings natural light inside the introverted home.

Takamine-Cho House marks the client’s second commission for Tomoaki Uno. The architect had previously designed a clinic for them. this time around, the client wanted to create a house using traditional stone masonry. this request left Tomoaki Uno a little stumped at the beginning of the design process. 

The architect explains,‘in the beginning, I thought of it only as a finishing material. however, as I learned more about the traditional masonry method and its use, I gradually realized that I had not been thinking correctly, and I was at a loss for a while. originally, japanese masonry was used for the foundations of castles, castle foundations, and stone walls. it was never meant to be a part of the architecture… therefore, there were no past examples to refer to.’

The dwelling is composed of two volumes: the stone ‘pyramid’ and an exposed concrete block. the two street-facing elevations have no windows, creating a completely private refuge. once inside, the spaces range from light and open next to the inner courtyard to soft, dimly lit corners in the pyramid. the interiors are dominated by raw concrete surfaces, which may be thought of as a cold, harsh material, but it actually creates a safe, cozy atmosphere for takamine-cho house.