Ho-House: A Testament to Modern Minimalist Architecture

Exploring Katsufumi Kubota's Award-Winning Residential Design

The design of Ho-House is unique in its approach to space and form. Kubota has created a space by folding thin, white slabs, shifting the sensory interpretation from figurative to abstract. This approach deepens the understanding of formless events and highlights the continuity between the inside and outside of the building. The abstract phenomena resulting from the building's relationship with nature make the occupants aware of the common basis of both, thereby merging them into one.

The realization of this design was achieved using reinforced concrete. With a site area of 306.99 m2, a building area of 152.63 m2, and a total floor area of 217.42m2, the Ho-House stands as a testament to modernist, minimalist architecture. The design tags associated with this project include Japan, Residence, Minimal, Modernism, and Concrete.

The design team, consisting of Katsufumi Kubota, Kazuya Toizaki, Kazu Kubota, Masayuki Kubota, and Naoya Yuda, worked meticulously to bring this vision to life. The design interacts harmoniously with its surroundings, creating a private space that makes one forget about the densely populated residential areas. The terrace, located behind the parking space, connects the living room, dining room, bathroom, and children's room, creating a harmonious presence.

The design of Ho-House was conceptualized between 2016 and 2017 and constructed from 2017 to 2020 in Takarazuka city, Hyogo, Japan. The project's main challenge was to create a space that releases the mind in a crowded residential area. This challenge was overcome by cutting a part of a piece of paper and folding it, a process that required many technologies, such as the technology to cut the tip of the slab to make the slab look thinner and the sash hardware that was originally manufactured to make it look more seamless.

The Ho-House design has been recognized for its innovative approach and has been awarded the Silver A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2021. This prestigious award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. The award is a testament to the strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill showcased in the design of Ho-House.