Three white walls front Ripple house by Kichi Architectural Design
The three-layered facade of this riverside house in Tsukubamirai, Japan, was intended by local studio Kichi Architectural Design to reference rippling water (+ slideshow).
![Three white walls front Ripple house by Kichi Architectural Design](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/03/Three-white-walls-front-Ripple-house-by-Kichi-Architectural-Design_dezeen_1.jpg)
Named Ripple, the three-storey family home has a blank white facade comprising three windowless walls, which incrementally increase in size. Once conceals a balcony, while another screens the house's entrance.
![Three white walls front Ripple house by Kichi Architectural Design](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/03/Three-white-walls-front-Ripple-house-by-Kichi-Architectural-Design_dezeen_3.jpg)
"The facade which consists of three white outer walls, is suggestive of triple ripples on the surface of the river," said Naoyuki Kikkawa, architect and co-founder of Kichi Architectural Design.
![Three white walls front Ripple house by Kichi Architectural Design](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/03/Three-white-walls-front-Ripple-house-by-Kichi-Architectural-Design_dezeen_4.jpg)
The house is set back from the nearby river and is surrounded by cherry blossom trees, which the architect says are typical of this area.
![Three white walls front Ripple house by Kichi Architectural Design](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/03/Three-white-walls-front-Ripple-house-by-Kichi-Architectural-Design_dezeen_6.jpg)
"It is a house that enables its residents to live closely with the cherry trees which manifest all kinds of expressions with the changing of the seasons in Japan," he said.
![Three white walls front Ripple house by Kichi Architectural Design](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/03/Three-white-walls-front-Ripple-house-by-Kichi-Architectural-Design_dezeen_13.jpg)
The house has a long and narrow plan, with a semi-enclosed courtyard at its centre and a sheltered patio at the back.
![Three white walls front Ripple house by Kichi Architectural Design](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/03/Three-white-walls-front-Ripple-house-by-Kichi-Architectural-Design_dezeen_11.jpg)
Unlike the austere street facade, the rear elevation is fully glazed to bring light into the building and offer residents views out towards the river.
![Three white walls front Ripple house by Kichi Architectural Design](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/03/Three-white-walls-front-Ripple-house-by-Kichi-Architectural-Design_dezeen_8.jpg)
"Based on the shape of the site, one that stretches in a narrow strip toward the cherry trees, I conceived the shape of the house, a U-shaped one, so that every one of its rooms would fully benefit from the light," said Kikkawa.
![Three white walls front Ripple house by Kichi Architectural Design](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/03/Three-white-walls-front-Ripple-house-by-Kichi-Architectural-Design_dezeen_20.jpg)
The house's living, dining and kitchen areas occupy one room at the rear of the house. A void in the floorplate overhead creates a double-height space along one edge, while the sheltered patio provides an outdoor dining area.
![Three white walls front Ripple house by Kichi Architectural Design](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/03/Three-white-walls-front-Ripple-house-by-Kichi-Architectural-Design_dezeen_14.jpg)
A lightweight steel staircase leads up to bedrooms and bathrooms on the first floor, then continues up to one of two lofts on the level above.
![Three white walls front Ripple house by Kichi Architectural Design](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/03/Three-white-walls-front-Ripple-house-by-Kichi-Architectural-Design_dezeen_23.jpg)
The second loft sits above the children's bedroom at the front of the house and can be accessed via a pair two ladders. Glass doors also open the space out to the balcony in front.
![Three white walls front Ripple house by Kichi Architectural Design](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/03/Three-white-walls-front-Ripple-house-by-Kichi-Architectural-Design_dezeen_5.jpg)
Kichi Architectural Design is led by Naoyuki Kikkawa and partner Manami Kikkawa. The studio also recently completed the cube-shaped House of Kubogaoka and a converted farmyard barn named Scandinavian Middle.
![Three white walls front Ripple house by Kichi Architectural Design](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/03/Three-white-walls-front-Ripple-house-by-Kichi-Architectural-Design_dezeen_24.jpg)
Photography is by Ippei Shinzawa.
![Ground floor plan of Three white walls front Ripple house by Kichi Architectural Design](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/03/Three-white-walls-front-Ripple-house-by-Kichi-Architectural-Design_dezeen_26.gif)
![First floor plan of Three white walls front Ripple house by Kichi Architectural Design](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/03/Three-white-walls-front-Ripple-house-by-Kichi-Architectural-Design_dezeen_27.gif)
![Section of Three white walls front Ripple house by Kichi Architectural Design](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/03/Three-white-walls-front-Ripple-house-by-Kichi-Architectural-Design_dezeen_28.gif)