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Archipelago Architects Features the "Blind Stairs" in Japanese-Style Houses

Anabata Media · April 26th, 2022
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Japan is known for its minimalist-style residences that have small spaces. Archipelago Architects Studio designed Kappa House that stands on an area of about 23 square meters with a building height of 8 meters. This house is part of a garden that is quite spacious from the neighbor's house, so Kappa House was built to create the impression of living in the garden.

This house is part of a garden that is quite spacious from the neighbor's houseKappa House has a rectangular shape with a teal exterior

Through this project, Archipelago Architects Studio has created an expressive and functional geometric house in one shape with a variety of spaces on three floors. In building Kappa House, Archipelago Architects Studio considered technicalities and design by planning the building to focus on vertical lines in confined spaces. Therefore, Archipelago Architects designed a staircase in the middle of the space to connect each floor of Kappa House. In addition, the staircase can serve as a space partition that strengthens the structure of the building on Kappa House. On the top floor, there is a dead-end staircase that does not lead anywhere or rather to the ceiling of the wall.

a staircase in the middle of the space to connect each floor of Kappa HouseBlind Staircase at Kappa House

Archipelago Architects explains "the stairs on Kappa House are not made of wood because if the stairs were made of wood, it would look like furniture, and if it was made of metal, it would look like a structure." To avoid such a view perspective, the stairs are made using wood, stone, metal, and resin materials applied simultaneously to create green and blue colors, commonly called teal colors.

there is a dead-end staircase that does not lead anywhere or rather to the ceiling of the wallThe interior of Kappa House is arranged by a series of stairs

On the exterior wall, Kappa House uses the same material as the stairs. The teal color produced on the exterior creates a harmonious blend between the garden and the building. The interior of Kappa House uses a wide floor with a thickness of 45mm made of cedarwood with a smooth texture. This floor serves as a structure and finishing on the building. Kappa House is designed to show rust that will appear on the building over time, giving the impression that the building has been around for a long time.

there is a dead-end staircase that does not lead anywhere or rather to the ceiling of the wallThe second floor of Kappa House 

the stairs was made of metalThe third floor of Kappa House

On the first floor of Kappa House is placed a living room, rehearsal room, and studio. When climbing the second-floor stairs, there is a bedroom complete with mattresses and cabinets. While the next floor is allocated to a kitchen, complete with a dining table for two people and a relaxing area where space users can enjoy the view outside from the top floor of the house.

drawing of the Kappa House

First-floor plan of Kappa House

Blind Stairs in Japanese Homes By Archipelago Architects

Third-floor plan of Kappa House

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Architecture · Residential ·