The Covered House20. May2011
The roof covers the entire house in a continuous unifying surface giving a sense of privacy and protection. In the same time, the roof configures the inhabited space creating an environment that continuously communicates between interior and exterior.
Images from Naoi Architecture & Design
Photographer: Hitoshi Ueda
More information from the architects (see below):
"It is a residence for the client couple with their two small children. They requested a plan without a garden. Being busy with their work and child care, they considered it unrealistic to enjoy life with a garden. So we made a proposal to enclose the deck on three sides and set it up, along with the living room, as a single, essentially undivided, main living space. Thus, the family can feel as if they are outside while relaxing in the living room, and can enjoy the deck garden at any time because it is inside the house." 
"Furthermore, with the windows open, the family are in touch with the neighboring landscape of rice paddies and mountains. The ‘cover’ realized such a superb space. This is a very human living space which always gives the clients a pleasant feeling as if they were outside and leads to an eco-friendly life." 
"A series of ‘covers’ are bent repeatedly around the house. The bent ‘cover’ creates a variety of spaces and an indefinite borderline between interior and exterior spaces. The floor of the living room on the ground floor is extended to the deck and so the children spend most of the time outdoors without realizing it." 
Naoi Architect's Credo:Sincerity and Simplicity
Our primary goal is not novelty.
We just focus on each project and its requirements such as the environment, the clients, and the current trends, with our utmost sincerity.
We believe "originality" is organically conceived when we strive to improve the everyday environment.
Pursuing "what we want to do" instead of "what should be done" lets us seek what is truly essential.
Even in this globalized and modernized world, we hope Japan's incredible natural sceneries will continue to thrive as part of our culture and our lives.
We believe, when we try to integrate our lives with nature, our essential needs as humans can be satisfied,
thus, adding the essence of universalness to the architecture.
What we strive to pursue is simplicity. Because we believe simplicity is what our society really yearns for.
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