Nobuo Araki creates simple house with overhanging eaves on Japan's largest plain
A large roof overhangs the walls of this simple wooden house on Japan's Kanto Plain, offering residents shade during hot weather and shelter from rain showers (+ slideshow).
![House in Fukaya by Nobuo Araki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/08/House-in-Fukaya-by-Nobuo-Araki_dezeen_468_8.jpg)
Architect Nobuo Araki and his Tokyo-based studio The Archetype designed the small one-storey house for a couple and their daughter.
Its location on Japan's largest area of flat land meant that the weather played an important part in the design.
![House in Fukaya by Nobuo Araki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/08/House-in-Fukaya-by-Nobuo-Araki_dezeen_468_10.jpg)
"This flat house stands in the middle of the northern Kanto Plain – an area that gets hot in the summer, and windy and cold in the winter," said the architect, whose past projects include a fashion store in a repurposed swimming pool.
"While the site is within commuting distance from the Tokyo metropolitan area, nature remains a powerful presence."
![House in Fukaya by Nobuo Araki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/08/House-in-Fukaya-by-Nobuo-Araki_dezeen_468_9.jpg)
Named House in Fukaya, the new house features a roof that extends beyond all four walls by just over a metre and a half.
These overhanging eaves give the family plenty of sheltered outdoor space, but also shade the building from the harsh midday sun.
![House in Fukaya by Nobuo Araki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/08/House-in-Fukaya-by-Nobuo-Araki_dezeen_468_3.jpg)
"On our first visit to the site we were greeted by a sudden late afternoon shower and had to rush to shelter under the eaves of the house that previously stood there," Araki explained.
"As a result of our visit, we began to think of a welcoming architectural form that would co-exist with the surrounding natural environment and gently embrace the lives of the family members."
![House in Fukaya by Nobuo Araki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/08/House-in-Fukaya-by-Nobuo-Araki_dezeen_468_2.jpg)
A gentle slope allows rainwater to drain off the roof, but the incline is not visible. When standing in front of the house, it appears flat and incredibly thin.
A similar technique was previously used by Suppose Design Office for a rural house near Hiroshima and Naka Studio for an asymmetric house in a skiing village.
![House in Fukaya by Nobuo Araki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/08/House-in-Fukaya-by-Nobuo-Araki_dezeen_468_4.jpg)
"Like a big tree under which the family members can rest, the house embraces its inhabitants and provides a relaxed and comfortable life close to nature," said Araki.
"The large roof allows the house to be expanded in any direction as the family grows or their lifestyle changes."
![House in Fukaya by Nobuo Araki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/08/House-in-Fukaya-by-Nobuo-Araki_dezeen_468_5.jpg)
The walls of the house are clad with timber, and punctured by large square openings that form both doors and windows.
![House in Fukaya by Nobuo Araki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/08/House-in-Fukaya-by-Nobuo-Araki_dezeen_468_7.jpg)
Inside, the layout was kept as simple as possible to help make the 90-square-metre space feel as generous as possible.
![House in Fukaya by Nobuo Araki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/08/House-in-Fukaya-by-Nobuo-Araki_dezeen_468_1.jpg)
Bathroom and washroom areas are clustered together to the left of the entrance.
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A single bedroom is located on the opposite side – a large space that could be divided into two as the couple's daughter gets older.
![House in Fukaya by Nobuo Araki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/08/House-in-Fukaya-by-Nobuo-Araki_dezeen_468_0.jpg)
The rest of the interior is open-plan, with a lounge in the middle, a dining space on one side, and a kitchen area along the wall.
Photography is by Shimizu Ken.
Project credits:
Architect: Nobuo Araki
Structure: G Design – Takeyuki Gaino
Facility consultants: SH – Koji Nagai, Shu Nagasawa
Lighting: On&Off – Shinji Yamaguchi
General contractor: Watanabetomi Corporation
![House in Fukaya by Nobuo Araki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/08/House-in-Fukaya-by-Nobuo-Araki_dezeen_1.gif)
![House in Fukaya by Nobuo Araki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/08/House-in-Fukaya-by-Nobuo-Araki_dezeen_2.gif)
![House in Fukaya by Nobuo Araki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/08/House-in-Fukaya-by-Nobuo-Araki_dezeen_3.gif)