The Pit House in Japan has smooth, rounded walls and a subterranean kitchen and living area.
This unusual 1,256-square-foot residence in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, looks like a simple wooden box from the outside. However, the interior features a surprising layout with a sunken living area set within a dug-out “pit” in the ground.
Designed by Hiroshima–based UID Architects for a couple with a young child, this residence—aptly named the Pit House—has a foundation that’s 3.3 feet higher than the road, with circular dug-out sections in the middle.
The house is suspended above a landscaped garden.
Courtesy of Koji Fujii/Nacása & Partners Inc.
The box-like wooden structure contains pit-like spaces that dip below the raised foundation level.
Courtesy of Koji Fujii/Nacása & Partners Inc.
The home’s organic form embraces the outdoor environment much like a large garden pavilion. The sunken living area follows the contours of the terraced land, opening up views to the north.
The upper volume is supported by slender, branch-like metal posts.
Courtesy of Koji Fujii/Nacása & Partners Inc.
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