Architects Saeco Kobayashi and Taishin Shiozaki have turned a former share house in Yokohama into an open‑air home spanning 57 sqm (about 614 sqft), a project they call the “Pit House.”
From cramped rooms to layered space
Until 2016 the building accommodated five separate bedrooms, each about 10 sqm, along with a central kitchen, two showers, two wash basins and two toilets. The layout was efficient but tightly compartmentalised. Kobayashi and Shiozaki approached the renovation by stripping away most interior walls and, more dramatically, removing sections of the floor. The excavated voids beneath the original slab became five distinct lowered zones, or “pits,” that now host the couple’s daily activities and their pets, Fal the cat and Tono the dog.
Rather than re‑creating traditional rooms, the design relies on a continuous, multi‑level space. Cooking, eating, working and sleeping are distributed across the airy interior, with each pit serving a specific function. The result is a home that feels open yet defined without adding new walls.
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Material choices and entry experience
The front gate is a repurposed wooden joist, setting a modest tone before visitors encounter east‑facing windows and an aluminium sash door that let in bright morning light. Inside, a simple bar holds umbrellas, and a shina plywood unit provides shoe storage. The same plywood lines most shelving and runs across the ceiling, creating visual continuity.
From the entrance, a single step leads into a hall where a wall‑mounted table folds out for guests, as Shiozaki notes, “people come over, and it gets crowded at the dining table.” One more step down brings occupants to the kitchen and dining area.
The kitchen bench is a stainless‑steel countertop with a wide sink and sloped drainage for hand‑washed dishes. It rests on existing structural pillars, freeing space beneath for an industrial‑size freezer, a refrigerator and low‑profile air‑conditioning units. A sliding corner window above a secondary table blurs the line between indoor and outdoor dining when opened, letting southern light filter in.
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Each of the five pits has a clear purpose. One serves as a primary workspace with a moisture‑proof concrete floor, books and models lining its edges, and a pendant light that also displays a ceramic frog. Adjacent pits house a studio with a scanner, a tool area, a storage zone near the kitchen, and a rubber tree planted directly into the opened concrete for maximum light and airflow.
By exposing what was once hidden under the floor, the design creates depth without new partitions, producing a layered setting that maximizes openness and freedom without relying on walls.
A steel staircase with overlapping steps links the kitchen level to the upper floor, providing a secure route for guests and pets. A carpeted area softens the floor, and a futon is packed away each day to free space for Tono to play.
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“No matter how small the land itself may be,” Shiozaki says, “it’s possible to create a rich environment within it.”
Located on steep slopes overlooking Mount Fuji, the home offers a view that reinforces the sense of openness created by the interior design. The couple’s decision to move from a tall apartment block to a ground‑level residence reflects a desire for a lifestyle closer to nature, a motive that resonates throughout the renovation.
It feels like home.
