A steep wooden roof covers the staggered levels of this family house in the Japanese city of Fujieda by architect Yoshiyasu Mizuno, concealing its full scale from certain angles.

Designed for a couple and their two children in Japan's Shizuoka Prefecture, Terada House occupies a square-shaped plot that abuts an existing residence.

From the street the house appears to have a three levels, but Mizuno sloped the roof down to one storey at the rear so as not to overwhelm its neighbour.

The roof ridge runs diagonally across the square plan of the house, changing its profile from different aspects. The pitch on the north-west side is much steeper for example, than when viewed from the north-east approach.
Inside, the exposed wooden beams extend at opposing angles, representing the change in pitch.
"Our idea was to determine a volume that does not overwhelm the existing house or surroundings, as well as providing an interior space that is comfortable, open, and secure at the same time," explained Mizuno.

"By seeking a good balance between the effort to reduce the volume of architecture in consideration for the surrounding environment and the desire to increase the interior space, we aimed to create architecture with the high spatial density," he added.

Spaces are arranged in a variety configurations up the stepped levels, with open stair treads and balustrades creating views between them.
On the ground floor, the entrance to the house is on t...