yuji tanabe builds second pettanco house with giant dormer in the japanese alps

yuji tanabe architects has built a second pettanco house, this time in chino, nagano, deep in the japanese alps.

based on the system of the first pettanco, which means ‘squashed’ in japanese, the studio has further customized its design, resulting in a two-floor residence complete with a giant dormer on its gabled roof.

surrounded by mountains and rivers, the residence blends within the landscape through its locally produced japanese larch structural frame, exterior walls and floor. yuji tanabe has built the house with a low height and simple shape to keep within the constrains of an efficient budget, customizing the system of the first pettanco to fulfill a special request by the client to include a workshop space.

the plan utilizes the japanese module of 4-ken x 6-ken (1-ken=1.82m), while the second floor is created by the section of the gabled roof structure in the middle of the house. a large roof dormer allows plenty of natural light and air to come in, while the wood burning stove warms up the entire house through the void and transom windows of the private rooms. function changes from public to private as users move from south to north, following the direction of the sloping land that runs through the site.