Top-heavy house by Archi LAB designed to minimise snow buildup
A large white box is raised on stilts to create the upper floor of this house in Japan, sheltering a smaller ground floor and entrance from the heavy snowfalls that Hokkaido Prefecture experiences in winter (+ slideshow).
![CYIN by Archi LAB](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/12/CYIN_Archi-LAB_Asahikawa_Hokkaido-Prefecture_Japan_Kei-Furuse_dezeen_sqb.jpg)
The house shares a plot with the client's parents' house in a residential neighbourhood of Asahikawa and was designed by Japanese studio Archi LAB.
The placement of the house near a road at the south end of the plot creates a large shared garden between the two residences.
![CYIN by Archi LAB](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/12/CYIN_Archi-LAB_Asahikawa_Hokkaido-Prefecture_Japan_Kei-Furuse_dezeen_936_0.jpg)
The city experiences snowy winters, with just under eight metres falling each year. Large-scale ice and snow sculptures are created during the annual winter festival, where musicians perform on a stage made from snow.
![CYIN by Archi LAB](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/12/CYIN_Archi-LAB_Asahikawa_Hokkaido-Prefecture_Japan_Kei-Furuse_dezeen_936_1.jpg)
To create a snow-free perimeter around the entrance, the architects raised the upper storey of the house, named CYIN, off the ground on V-shaped pilotti. This large volume overhangs a smaller timber-clad base, forming a huge canopy.
![CYIN by Archi LAB](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/12/CYIN_Archi-LAB_Asahikawa_Hokkaido-Prefecture_Japan_Kei-Furuse_dezeen_936_5.jpg)
"The design brief called for an effective architectural solution that not only incorporates a good snow management system but also one that is able to minimise heat build up in summer, and reduce the pressure on heaters in winter," explained the architects.
![CYIN by Archi LAB](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/12/CYIN_Archi-LAB_Asahikawa_Hokkaido-Prefecture_Japan_Kei-Furuse_dezeen_936_9.jpg)
"Supported on pilotis, the upper level of the two-storey house rests lightly over its smaller base," they added. "This strategy minimises snow accumulation and creates a nice winter street garden on the ground level."
![CYIN by Archi LAB](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/12/CYIN_Archi-LAB_Asahikawa_Hokkaido-Prefecture_Japan_Kei-Furuse_dezeen_936_6.jpg)
The building's base contains a hobby room and entrance hall, while two bedrooms, an open-plan living space and a sheltered balcony are set on the upper floor.
![CYIN by Archi LAB](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/12/CYIN_Archi-LAB_Asahikawa_Hokkaido-Prefecture_Japan_Kei-Furuse_dezeen_sqa.jpg)
Wooden partitions with sliding doors define rooms, while storage cabinets are made from matching timber. A set of storage blocks double as a flight of stairs to a pair of mezzanines over the two bedrooms.
![CYIN by Archi LAB](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/12/CYIN_Archi-LAB_Asahikawa_Hokkaido-Prefecture_Japan_Kei-Furuse_dezeen_936_4.jpg)
The open-plan living space features a large window to the south and a terrace to the north. These are positioned to maximise ventilation and natural light, while avoiding direct sunlight from the east and west to maintain a cool temperature in summer.
Photography is by Kei Furuse.
![CYIN by Archi LAB](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/12/CYIN_Archi-LAB_Asahikawa_Hokkaido-Prefecture_Japan_Kei-Furusesite-plan__dezeen_3_.gif)
![CYIN by Archi LAB](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/12/CYIN_Archi-LAB_Asahikawa_Hokkaido-Prefecture_Japan_Kei-Furuse_ground-floor-plan_dezeen_2_.gif)
![CYIN by Archi LAB](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/12/CYIN_Archi-LAB_Asahikawa_Hokkaido-Prefecture_Japan_Kei-Furuse_first-floor-plan_dezeen_1_.gif)