Koshino House
Architect
Location
Area
Year
Tadao Ando
Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
297 sq. m
1981 (original), 1984 (extension)
The Koshino House by Tadao Ando features two concrete volumes nestled into a forested hillside in Ashiya, Japan. This study highlights its construction stages, focusing on Ando’s precise use of concrete and interplay of light and shadow.
Minimalist forms and carefully placed openings frame the landscape, creating a serene connection between architecture and nature. The house exemplifies Ando’s mastery of materiality and spatial harmony.
The Koshino House is defined by geometric forms—cuboids and a cylinder split down the middle—constructed entirely from concrete. These shapes are integrated with the landscape, minimizing the massiveness of the structure when viewed from the highest point of the plot.
The house consists of two parallel volumes connected by an underground corridor, creating a central courtyard. One wing contains bedrooms, while the other features a double-height living area. A crescent-shaped studio, added later, contrasts the main volumes. The design is a study in balancing form, function, and connection to the site.
Entering the Koshino House through the main upper floor leads to a dramatic shift as the narrow staircase opens up to a double-height living room with large windows on two sides. Following Tadao Ando’s typical design approach, the house features flat storeys connected by staircases, similar to his Azuma House (1976). The wide staircase leads to an outdoor courtyard, while a narrower one connects the two indoor levels. Ando carefully orchestrates movement and space, considering factors like privacy, lighting, and size.
The building responds to its ecology, with concrete forms creatively manipulating light, and is carefully positioned to preserve the existing trees. The open living spaces flow into the outdoors, with a courtyard connecting the concrete blocks, serving as both a passage and outdoor living area.
The studio stands out, with overhead lighting creating a dynamic play of shadows, contrasting with the linear lighting of the main structure. The owner transformed the space into an art gallery, allowing guests to experience artwork in a museum-like setting.
