Nine beautiful one story houses｜Tips to avoid mistakes in appearance

1-1. One story house with natural-looking paneling generously

牛久の家 ｜ Ushiku house ( architect：Masatoshi Yashima & Yuko Yashima )

This house built in Ushiku, Ibaraki, has an appearance that gives a natural impression to the surrounding area. The paneling with beautiful grain of the wood are generously used. The garden is planted with lawn and garden plants that make you feel, creating a peaceful and relaxing house.

The interior richly uses paneling as well, giving the interior of the house a sense of serenity.

1-2. Museum-like one story house nestled in nature

葉山町の家 ｜ Hayama house ( architect：Masatoshi Yashima & Yuko Yashima )

This one story house in Miura-gun, Kanagawa, is unique in that the house is colored in a crisp white color from every angle. The museum-like exterior exudes a refined beauty. The house is also in harmony with the surrounding natural environment, giving it a stronger sense of presence.

1-3. Lovely one story house in white and natural

Kiseki no IE ｜ 軌跡の家 ( architect：Takanori Ihara )

This one story house with a large, single-sloping roof has soft white exterior walls and natural materials in key places. It has a lovely exterior that blends well with the garden trees and lawn.

Because it is built on a large lot, it is easy to secure lighting, making the inside of the house bright and comfortable.

1-4. Shell house for outdoor experience

SHELL HOUSE ( architect：Takanori Ihara )

This one story house, with large windows on one side of the building, is eye-catching in its unique form. Galvalume steel plates are used for the interior ceiling and walls, creating a stylish impression.

Due to the continuity with the large garden, residents are able to utilize the garden with a bit of an outdoor feel, which is also major attractions.

1-5. Black one story house with distinctive cross-shaped

湯の山の平屋　〜十字プランと四つの庭〜 ( architect：Manabu Naya )

This house, where a retired couple lives, is a curious one story house with a cross-shaped appearance when viewed from the sky. To combine stylishness and naturalness, black paneling is used for the exterior walls.

The couple also wanted a "Japanese garden" that they could look out on when they enjoy tea together, and a "Western garden" that their grandchildren could enjoy when they come to visit. The architect's skill has made this a reality.

1-6. Simple second house floating in forest

八ヶ岳のセカンドハウス　〜森の中に浮かぶ〜 ( architect：Manabu Naya )

This is a simple second house built for a couple who enjoy winter sports. The garage is also designed to take advantage of the difference in elevation of the site. The building structure is a rectangular one-room, but there is a balcony that connects the house to the forest, allowing the residents to enjoy the fresh air outside even while inside the building.

1-7. Beautiful gray colored one story house in T-shape

one house 引き継いだ平屋の家 ( architect：Munenori Matsuo & Haruka Matsuo )

The glossy gray exterior walls of this one-story house are impressive. The red edge of the front door adds a playful touch to the color scheme. A loft is also designed by partially making a single-sloping roof, loosely connecting the children's rooms and strengthening the bond between the family members.

1-8. Luxury one story villa

東浪見の別荘 ( architect：Masaki Katayama )

This is a one story villa built in Chiba. It is built on a large plot of land, which provides good lighting and ventilation for a comfortable stay.

There is also a garden where you can enjoy the greenery of trees and lawns, and you can be relaxed on outdoor chairs.

1-9. Modern Japanese style one story house with beautiful tiled roof

登り梁の家 ( architect：Yohei Tanaka )

This is a modern Japanese style house with a tile roof that excels in durability. It is not only the roof tiles that give the house a Japanese feel. Rectangular steppingstones lined up on the approach to the entrance and the torii-like design of the entranceway also give the house a Japanese feel.

In order to add modernity to it, the exterior walls are unified in a black color that dares to tighten the atmosphere.

If you would like to consult with or be introduced to an architect who can design a stylish one-story house that meets your needs and requirements, japanese-architects.com's architect referrals are also useful.

2-1. Tip 1: Be particular about shape of roof

First, let's focus on the shape of the roof. The roof of a one　story house inevitably has a large presence. You can easily create a beautiful one story appearance if you pay close attention to the shape of the roof.

In a one story house, all living space is concentrated on the first floor. Its visual position is thus lower than that of a two story house. Therefore, when viewed from the outside, the roof is easily visible and has a large presence, greatly affecting the exterior image of a one story house.

We will therefore introduce four types of roof shapes that create a beautiful appearance. Each type has its original atmosphere, so please take a look at them as reference for creating your ideal one story house.

2-1-1. Standard "gable"

上原の家 ( architect：Katsutoshi Sasaki )

The standard triangular roof shape familiar to many people is called a "gable" (kiridzuma). It is a highly functional roof that has been incorporated in many houses in Japan today.

Gables have the following advantages

• Less risk of leaks because rain does not accumulate on the roof and flows easily
• The interior of the triangular roof has high ceiling, making the interior space look larger
• Standard shape allows for lower costs for new construction and maintenance

If you want to focus on functionality with less risk of leaks, or if you want to spend more of your budget on exterior parts other than the roof, we recommend a standard gable.

2-1-2. "Flat roof" classic simplicity

東浪見の別荘 ( architect：Masaki Katayama )

For the ultimate impression of simplicity, incorporate a "flat roof (rokuyane)" with no slope.

The flat roof can be used as a rooftop depending on the structure, and can be used in a variety of ways, such as for outdoor living or starting a vegetable garden. It is also recommended when the garden is small due to site area issues.

While stylish and beautiful, the disadvantage of the roof is the high risk of leaks due to absence of slope and difficulty in shedding rain. If you are going to incorporate a flat roof, make sure it is thoroughly waterproofed and maintained regularly to keep it functional.

2-1-3. "Single-slope roof" giving dynamic impression

one house 引き継いだ平屋の家 ( architect：Munenori Matsuo & Haruka Matsuo )

The "single-slope roof", in which only one side of the roof is sloped, is characterized by its unique and dynamic presence.

The unique shape of the roof, with its large slope, offers advantages such as a loft inside the room and the installation of more solar panels than usual. On the other hand, the exterior walls without a roof are directly exposed to sunlight, wind, and rain, and there is a risk of premature deterioration over time.

When incorporating a single-slope roof, it will be important to design a floor plan, including sunlight or others.

2-1-4. Mellow "hip roof"

法連町の家 ( architect：Katsutoshi Sasaki )

The "hip roof (yosemune)" style, with its four roof planes flowing in different directions, has a long history and gives the impression of serenity.

The roof slopes in four directions, protecting the house from wind, rain, and sunlight and prolonging its life. The mellow exterior also makes it an excellent match for Japanese modern style one story houses that incorporate Japanese traditions.

On the other hand, the drawback is that the attic is lower than other roof shapes. If you want to have storage or a loft in the attic, you need to be careful with the design.

Tip 2: Select materials and colors matching your image

The second tip is to select materials and colors that match your desired finished image. A beautiful appearance with a sense of unity can also be achieved by combining color tones.

For example, if you want to create a cool and calm impression, use mainly black and gray colors and siding or galvalume steel sheet as materials for a stylish look. For a lovely and beautiful appearance, use mainly white or ivory colors, and use highly designed painted walls on the exterior.

The combination of colors and materials can greatly affect the exterior. If you want to make sure that the combination works well, have in-depth discussions and simulations with the architect and communicate your desired image.

2-3. Tip 3: Consider balance of size and number of windows

登り梁の家 ( architect：Yohei Tanaka )

A third tip for creating a one story house having beautiful exterior is to consider balance of the size and number of windows, which have a large presence.

Many people are attracted to large windows that provide a sense of openness. However, too large windows draw in too much sunlight or line of sight from outside, making it difficult to achieve a comfortable living environment. Especially in one story houses, where living space is concentrated on the first floor, the balance between openness and privacy must be carefully considered.

The balance of window installation should be discussed in depth with the architect to create a wonderful one story house that is beautiful yet comfortable to live in.

2-4. Tip 4: Provide wood deck or terrace, standard of beautiful exterior

湯の山の平屋　〜十字プランと四つの庭〜 ( architect：Manabu Naya )

A wood deck or terrace connecting the inside to the outside is another tip to creating a beautiful one story house that catches people's eye.

Wood decks and terraces provide continuity with the living room, expanding the living space and allowing you to enjoy a sense of spaciousness and openness both visually and sensuously. You can use the deck even when the sun is shining or it is raining by adding a roof or awning, thus expanding its usage.

However, the surrounding environment also needs to be considered, as too much nature will attract insects and birds, making it useless.

2-5. Tip 5: Check for sufficient lighting and ventilation at design stage

宗像の家 ( architect：Shinji Yoshida ＋ Yoko Sugita )

In order to build a one story house without making mistakes, it is important to check at the design stage whether lighting and ventilation are sufficient. Since a one story house is not as tall as other houses, it may be difficult to secure lighting and ventilation.

For example, if there are tall buildings or they are scheduled to be built, we recommend you ask the builder to make some measurements, such as adding skylights or designing a courtyard. If you are planning to choose a plot of land, consider building in a wide area in the suburbs where there is enough space between houses in the surrounding area. This will allow for better lighting and ventilation, and bring you a comfortable living environment.

In addition, many people focus only on the living room regarding lighting and ventilation. In many cases, however, all rooms face in different directions in a one story house. Thus, it is important to check the lighting and ventilation in each room, such as bedrooms and bathrooms, to create a comfortable house.

2-6. Tip 6: Design taking privacy into consideration

鴨居の家 ｜ Kamoi house ( architect：Masatoshi Yashima & Yuko Yashima )

The sixth tip is to have the house designed with privacy in mind. A house tends to be too much openness when considering a beautiful exterior. However, in order to create a comfortable living environment, it is necessary to minimize lines of sight from the outside.

For example, a fence or a lot of plants in the exterior will help to block the view from the outside. Deep eaves can also block the line of sight from the second floor of a neighboring house.

The house in the above photo has a courtyard. A courtyard is a very popular floor plan because it allows residents to feel the outside air while securing privacy, and it also provides excellent lighting.

One story houses, which have been on the rise in recent years, offer a variety of privacy-protecting features, so please consult with your architect.

Although it is easy to be preoccupied with the view from the outside, it is also important to consider the privacy within the family. Family members become more intimate, which is a great advantage of a one story house. However, if you also consider designing a space where you can devote yourself to your own time, you can create a house where you can live comfortably for a long time.

Tip 7: Take security measures to ensure safety

東浪見の別荘 ( architect：Masaki Katayama )

To create a beautiful but safe one-story house, it is also important to apply security measures at the design stage.

One story houses have the disadvantage of being an easy target for thieves because the windows are concentrated on the first floor, which is a common entry point for thieves. In order to achieve a safe living environment, make sure to create a house that is difficult for thieves to target.

Security measures that can be taken in one-story buildings include the following

• Use laminated glass, double-glazing, or other high-security windows
• Gravel pebbles around windows for easy recognition of footsteps
• Install security cameras in areas prone to blind spots

While focusing on the one story house having beautiful appearance, you should take security measures to ensure a safe and comfortable life.