Stack Up House by Kazuma Kobayashi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design Competition Category.
IronArchitecture· 2025
Stack Up House
Client: KENBO Co., Ltd.
A' Design Award Winner in Architecture Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #169244The Design
About Stack Up House
Stack Up is a two-story wooden house built in a dense urban area. The exterior resembles a stack of boxes of different sizes, which gives the building a sense of depth. Windows were positioned to limit views from the street, and large glass panels bring in natural light. A high ceiling adds a feeling of spaciousness. A courtyard allows light and air to enter while keeping the interior private. A large tree in the garden acts as a screen. The garden is also arranged as a run for dogs, with fences and stairs at safe heights.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award
Stack Up House is an Iron A' Design Award winner, a prestigious recognition granted to good designs that meet the professional and industrial requirements expected from well-designed creations. Iron winners demonstrate great skill, high specialization, expert understanding, and creative capacity of their creators. Stack Up House is expected to be a highly regarded, admired, and cherished creation that is practical and innovative. This Iron A' Design Award-winning design integrates industry best practices and has competent technical characteristics linked with know-how and talent. Stack Up House is respected for its thoroughness and is designed to provide quality of life improvements that help make the world a better place.
Where to Get It
Custom Residential Architecture Services
We design homes that reflect your individuality while achieving privacy and openness in urban environments. Our architectural approach creates resort-like comfort through thoughtful spatial planning, natural light integration, and harmony between interior and exterior spaces. Each project exceeds expectations.
Discuss Your ProjectBehind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- This building was designed to achieve an open space while protecting privacy in an environment where the surrounding buildings are close together. The placement of the windows was adjusted to take into account the view from the outside. The interior was designed with a high ceiling to create a pleasant sense of spaciousness while reducing the sense of oppression. Furthermore large glass was effectivel placed to bring in plenty of natural light creating a bright and open space.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Site area 400 square meters
Building area 155 square meters - Tags
- house, box, japan, Architecture, garden, pet
- Production Technology
- wooden Second story building
- Design Challenge
- At the client's request we incorporated a design that would make the miscellaneous goods collected as a hobby stand out in the home. We adjusted the interior materials and colors to create a space that would bring out the appeal of the miscellaneous goods. In addition the garden design is centered around stones and we designed it to harmonize with the interior while making the most of the texture of natural materials.
- Research
- We carefully considered the optimal window layout taking into account the surrounding environment. We made sure to incorporate the client's request for large windows while also making sure to create a space where they could live comfortably. In particular we planted a large tree in the garden and used it as a screen. This allowed us to block out the view from outside while also letting in a pleasant amount of light creating a living room with a sense of openness.
- Inspiration
- This house is located in the city center but we aimed to create a space that would provide a high level of privacy and a sense of comfort similar to that of a resort hotel. The building has a design that resembles overlapping boxes giving it a sense of depth. In addition by incorporating a design with a courtyard we have created an open space. While allowing in natural light and wind, we have created a private space where you can spend time without worrying about the eyes of those around you.
- Project Duration
- Built in Kurashiki City Okayama Prefecture in 2023
- Operation Flow
- The garden is designed to be used as a dog run and a spacious area has been secured where pets can run around freely. Safety has also been taken into consideration and by carefully selecting the height of the fences and stairs an environment has been created where dogs can live comfortably.
- Image Credits
- Photographer Senichiro Nogami
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