Spatial Composition Through Sectional Analysis: A Study of Japanese Independent Residences on Sloping Terrain (2015–2024)

The relationship between architecture and sloping terrain constitutes a persistent subject in architectural discourse. Western scholarship has often emphasized structural, technical, and formal strategies, whereas systematic sectional studies focusing on Japanese residential works in sloped environments remain comparatively underexplored. This study aims to elucidate the characteristics and design logic of sectional composition through an analysis of 55 independent Japanese residential projects on sloping terrain from the period 2015 to 2024. Employing an analytical framework that integrates external composition (orientation of the approach path and grounding condition of the building volume) with internal composition (sectional relationship between the entrance and the main room), the research identifies six fundamental sectional types and their sub-patterns. From these, three core design logics are derived: transforming slope directionality into internal circulation sequences, establishing a contrastive relationship between building volume and terrain, and adapting the terrain through leveling to prioritize functional layout. By maintaining a consistent analytical framework with the foundational study, the research enables a diachronic comparison that reveals both continuities and shifts in sectional design strategies over the past two decades. Architects’ own design statements are incorporated to corroborate the spatial narratives embedded in these compositional strategies. The findings demonstrate that contemporary Japanese sloping terrain residences employ diverse approaches ranging from topographic integration to volumetric dialog, showing that sectional organization not only responds to topographic conditions but also shapes spatial experience and dwelling logic. This study provides a typological reference for sloping terrain residential design and contributes an empirical foundation for understanding the intrinsic compositional relationship between architecture and terrain.