![ABE House by UAo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/05/dezeen_ABE-House-by-UAo_top1.jpg)
ABE House by UAo
The floor of the dining room becomes a worktop for the kitchen inside this Tokyo house by Japanese studio Urban Architecture Office (UAo).
![ABE House by UAo ABE House by UAo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/05/dezeen_ABE-House-by-UAo_4.jpg)
With concrete walls both inside and out, the three-storey house has a staggered ground floor, which creates the recessed lower level.
![ABE House by UAo ABE House by UAo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/05/dezeen_ABE-House-by-UAo_6.jpg)
Every doorway, window and opening in the house is arched, while four staircases connect rooms with two separate roof terraces.
![ABE House by UAo ABE House by UAo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/05/dezeen_ABE-House-by-UAo_1.jpg)
On the first floor, a wide corridor doubles up as an office workspace and separates a bedroom from the triangular balcony opposite.
![ABE House by UAo ABE House by UAo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/05/dezeen_ABE-House-by-UAo_2.jpg)
The uppermost staircase climbs one of the exterior walls to connect the second floor with the larger terrace, located on the top of the building.
![ABE House by UAo ABE House by UAo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/05/dezeen_ABE-House-by-UAo_5.jpg)
The plan of the house is also split into three overlapping blocks, which are arrayed to face five little gardens.
![ABE House by UAo ABE House by UAo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/05/dezeen_ABE-House-by-UAo_8b.jpg)
This is the first project we've featured by UAo, but you can see more houses in Japan by other architects here.
![ABE House by UAo ABE House by UAo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/05/dezeen_ABE-House-by-UAo_7b.jpg)
Here's some more information from UAo:
ABE house
Dwelling as a Journey
Summary
This building's site is a sectionalized residential district close to Tokyo.
![ABE House by UAo ABE House by UAo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/05/dezeen_ABE-House-by-UAo_3.jpg)
On each surrounding site, there is a court yard in front of the house, and almost the houses are built in a similar layout.
![ABE House by UAo ABE House by UAo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/05/dezeen_ABE-House-by-UAo_15.jpg)
In contrast, we treated the site as a garden and arranged our proposal thinking about how to make the garden comfortable.
![ABE House by UAo ABE House by UAo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/05/dezeen_ABE-House-by-UAo_14.jpg)
Thus, this house was created by connecting three types of volumes of different angle. From this a new life style "house into a garden" can begin.
![ABE House by UAo ABE House by UAo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/05/dezeen_ABE-House-by-UAo_12.jpg)
Concept
To arrange many gardens on this site, the form of this house is created by connecting three types of volumes.
![ABE House by UAo ABE House by UAo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/05/dezeen_ABE-House-by-UAo_13a.jpg)
The garden constantly connects inside, creating a lifestyle inside the house close to the garden.
![ABE House by UAo ABE House by UAo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/05/dezeen_ABE-House-by-UAo_11e.jpg)
Rounded openings softly separate spaces from where one stands and the spaces of different levels connect personal spaces to each other.
![ABE House by UAo ABE House by UAo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/05/dezeen_ABE-House-by-UAo_16.gif)
Walking around various personal spaces of this house becomes like a "journey."
![ABE House by UAo ABE House by UAo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/05/dezeen_ABE-House-by-UAo_17.gif)
Location: Tama-shi, Tokyo
Architects: UAo
![ABE House by UAo ABE House by UAo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/05/dezeen_ABE-House-by-UAo_18.gif)
Structural engineers: Kanebako Structural Engineers
General constructors: Hanabusa Construction
![ABE House by UAo ABE House by UAo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/05/dezeen_ABE-House-by-UAo_19.gif)
Site area: 109.83 sq m
Building area: 43.81 sq m
Total floor area: 87.8 sq m
![ABE House by UAo ABE House by UAo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/05/dezeen_ABE-House-by-UAo_20.gif)
Structure: steel frame; 3 storeys
Principal use: private residence
Construction period: December, 2011
![ABE House by UAo ABE House by UAo](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/05/dezeen_ABE-House-by-UAo_21.gif)