All About Eave: 8 Overhangs That Go Above and Beyond

Generally speaking, many of those outside of the design world tend to associate architects with monolithic buildings like skyscrapers or museums, linking a façade with the associated architect. On the other hand, a similar connection is made between interior designers and inside spaces like restaurants or hotels — interiors are associated with the atmospheric qualities of internal environments.

However, there are gray areas, one of them being transitional spaces: areas at the threshold marked by spatial devices that blur boundaries between the interior and exterior of buildings. Often involving continued flooring or dematerialized walls, these spatial devices conjure up uninterrupted, continuous spaces between inside and outside.

This is synonymous with what’s known in traditional Japanese architecture as ‘nokishita,’ literally translated as spheres under the eaves. These gray areas are where the magic happens — where striking ethereal, social and visual interactions transpire. This collection is all about eaves, encompassing projects with various instances of these in-between spaces.

Kawate by Keitaro Muto Architects, Gifu-shi, Japan

Situated on the north side of a rice field, this house for four rests nearly four and a half feet above the lawn, creating the illusion of extending the outside into the interior. By having half of the structure floated by a cantilevered beam, a dynamic space is created under the eaves, opening up the living room to unparalleled views and flooding the space with afternoon sunlight.

ISM House by International Royal Architecture, Chiba, Japan

Under the eaves of this residential project, spaces open up not to the outdoors, but progressively inwards, towards the most intimate rooms of the house. The floating attic space connects the various spaces gently with indirect sunlight.

House with Eaves and an Attic by ON design partnership, Bunkyo-ku,Tokyo

Designed with the intention to leave the previously existing trees untouched, this home was designed with a large roof to accommodate the tall trunks and prevent prying eyes from seeing inside. The inclining roof houses an attic-like space that hovers over the windowless middle floor that is used as a large storage space.

Eaves Around House by Masahiro Miyake (y+M design office), Kyoto, Prefecture

This low-rise house was arranged to provide airy open spaces, while at the same time, to accommodate adequate insulation and ventilation. Inside, the ceiling directly connects with the “nokishita” (the sphere of partitions under the eaves), creating a seamless flow through the dematerialized walls that blur the boundary between interior and exterior spaces.

SH House by BaksvanWengerden Architecten, Bentveld, The Netherlands

Originally built in 1932, this house was originally organized to separate spaces by function, which made all of interior rooms feel cramped and tight. Featuring an open plan that extends in the lush garden, the spacious renovation includes a new stairwell that connects all of the interior spaces and an extension that increases the square footage.

Ryoguhiya by Kengo Kuma and Associates, Nagoya, Japan

This long-established confectionary store is located on a busy street, so the design plan included an inhabitable roof to create a tranquil, shadowy room beneath the eaves. Forming a sanctuary-like space, the entryway transports visitors to a different atmosphere.

House AA by Moca Architects, Nara, Japan

This small home for a family houses three rooms beneath an oversized pitched roof. The deep eaves beneath the roof on the exterior and the interior create the illusion of vast space and provide open views while those inside remain hidden from plain sight.

The Winged House by K2ld Architects, Singapore

Located in the lush tropics, this project was built around three soaring palms trees in a triangular scheme. Partially inspired by the Minangkabau roof that is traditionally found in the Malay vernacular, each of the rooms open up to a pool that is sheltered by theatrical overhanging eaves.