t-square design associates adds a transitional corridor linking a japanese house to nature

Tamada & Wakimoto Architects have completed the 'Roof House' in the rural outskirts of Tochigi, Japan, on a former farmstead surrounded by rice fields and small factories. This residence is designed to integrate daily life with its garden surroundings. The project is situated on a 2,000-square-meter plot, which previously held a large farmhouse and was framed by hardwood trees. The client, a young individual relocating from the city, sought a space that could facilitate living, working, and social connection, while also offering adaptability for future needs. The architects responded to this brief by disaggregating the house into several compact buildings, which are then strategically arranged around semi-outdoor courtyards. These intermediate spaces, referred to as 'earthen floor' gardens, are unified beneath a single, thin, and extended roof. This design approach results in a relaxed, low-slung architectural form that encourages fluid movement between indoor rooms and outdoor areas. This integration allows the surrounding landscape, prevailing weather conditions, and local daily rhythms to significantly influence and shape the occupants' interaction with the house. The design of Roof House imbues each side with a distinct character. The main garden is oriented towards the existing trees, and an outdoor kitchen is incorporated for cooking and social gatherings, particularly during the spring cherry blossom season. Near the entrance, a shaded zone beneath the eaves serves as an informal space for sitting, conversing, or receiving visitors. To the north, a walled garden provides a dedicated area for weekend activities such as carpentry or car maintenance, reflecting common rural pursuits. Central to the Roof House's concept is its inherent adaptability. The architectural plan allows for future reconfigurations over time. For instance, the private section of the house, which includes the bedroom and bath, could continue to function as a vacation home. Concurrently, other segments of the structure are designed with the flexibility to be repurposed, potentially serving as a small retail shop or an art gallery. This forward-thinking design ensures the residence can evolve with the client's changing needs and aspirations, maintaining its utility and relevance in the long term. #JapaneseArchitecture #ResidentialDesign #GardenIntegration #AdaptableArchitecture #RuralLiving #CourtyardHouse #ArchitecturalInnovation #TamadaWakimotoArchitects

KIRI architects, based in Tokyo, has designed a compact dwelling featuring a prominent, light-filled stair hall. This unique architectural element occupies one-third of the house's total volume and extends across its entire length. The design strategically positions the living areas to the north, while an open, sunny garden is situated to the south. The glazed and elongated stair hall serves a crucial function in bringing natural light and external views into the interior spaces, which might otherwise be confined and dimly lit. This central feature transforms what could be a compact and potentially dark home into an airy and inviting residence. Within the expansive stair hall, the design team at KIRI architects has incorporated various spaces intended for lingering and relaxation. These include a spacious engawa, a traditional Japanese veranda, which offers views of the garden. Additionally, a dedicated study area is positioned to provide a vista of the street. The architects emphasize the multi-functional nature of the stair hall, noting its adaptability. For instance, the handrail can be utilized as an extended clothesline on sunny days, while the stair treads are designed to be wide enough for sitting and relaxing, allowing residents to enjoy activities such as listening to music from the lower level. This zone is described as a 'sublime space filled with light and breeze,' highlighting its role as a comfortable and dynamic hub within the home. The structural integrity of the staircase is maintained by a series of slender timber columns and 16-millimeter steel rods that are suspended from the ceiling. The timber treads and risers of the stairs are securely bolted together and fastened onto a steel girder, ensuring both stability and a refined aesthetic. The architects acknowledge that, at first glance, the scale of the staircase might appear disproportionate for a dwelling of its size. However, they clarify that the light-filled stair hall is not merely a functional element for vertical circulation but also acts as a significant mediator of the surrounding environment. The slender yet overlapping columns within the stair hall subtly delineate the living spaces from the garden and neighboring properties. This arrangement allows a substantial amount of sunlight to enter the home, which is then filtered and softened by the various elements of the staircase—including the stairs themselves, the handrail, and the hanging rods. The result is a mellow and ample quality of light that permeates the living spaces beyond the central hall. In adherence to the principles of metabolism, a architectural movement that emphasizes flexibility and adaptability, the bedroom on the upper floor facing the staircase features a recurring series of folding doors. This design choice anticipates future needs, allowing for the potential division of the space into smaller children's rooms as the family evolves. Similarly, the ground floor living room is designed to open up completely to the garden, providing children with direct and unhindered access to the outdoor space. This thoughtful integration of flexible design and natural light creates a living environment that is both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional, responding to the dynamic needs of its occupants within a compact Japanese urban setting. #JapaneseArchitecture #CompactLiving #StaircaseDesign #NaturalLight #ResidentialArchitecture #FlexibleInteriors #MetabolistInfluence #ArchitecturalInnovation

The SJ building, designed by Takao Shiotsuka Atelier, is a three-story reinforced concrete structure situated in Saiki, Oita Prefecture, Japan. This unique complex houses a wine shop, a canteen, and two residential units (the owner's house and the grandmother's house) stacked vertically. Its distinguishing feature is an innovative outdoor concrete ramp that serves as the primary means of vertical circulation, linking all floors and spaces without any internal stairs. The project is deeply rooted in the historical context of its location, an intersection leading to a shrine approach in Saiki city, where a liquor store traditionally operated. The ground-floor wine shop continues this legacy, fostering a strong connection with the local community. The canteen, strategically placed within the building, caters to elderly visitors of nearby hospitals, highlighting the building's role in serving the broader community. Takao Shiotsuka Atelier's design philosophy for the SJ building emphasizes creating an open relationship both within its interior spaces and with its external surroundings. The decision to implement an outdoor spiral ramp, rather than internal staircases, is central to this vision. As occupants and visitors ascend or descend the ramp, they are presented with continuously changing views of the historic castle town, creating a dynamic and engaging experience. This architectural choice not only facilitates movement between the disparate functional areas but also integrates the building with its urban landscape. The varying heights along the ramp introduce diverse floor and ceiling levels within the interior spaces. This volumetric manipulation results in rooms with distinct characteristics, each offering unique perspectives and connections to the outside environment through strategically placed openings. The building's design ensures that it interacts meaningfully with the four surrounding streets, effectively extending the existing shrine approach and an adjacent alleyway through the continuous flow of the ramp. Despite the distinct functions of the wine shop, canteen, and two residences, the building is conceived as a cohesive entity. The architect suggests that the layered structure, though functionally separate, can be viewed as a single, organically linked house due to the interconnectedness of its residents' lives facilitated by the shared circulation. The SJ building is a testament to how thoughtful architectural design can blend commercial, community, and residential functions into a harmonious, vertically integrated space, enhancing both internal user experience and external urban engagement. The project was structurally designed by Hirohide Tao and occupies a lot size of 158 square meters. #TakaoShiotsukaAtelier #SJBuilding #JapaneseArchitecture #ConcreteConstruction #OutdoorRamp #MixedUseBuilding #ResidentialArchitecture #RetailDesign #CommunitySpace #UrbanIntegration

Tato Architects, led by founder Yo Shimada, undertook the renovation of an 87-square-metre traditional Japanese house in Hyogo Prefecture for a young couple. The original structure, a single-storey residence, featured a layout comprising six main rooms, a configuration deemed unsuitable for the clients' modern lifestyle. The renovation aimed to transform the segmented interior into a more open and adaptable living space. The core of the renovation involved completely stripping the interior to expose the existing wooden structural framework. Instead of re-establishing traditional partitions, Shimada introduced a novel approach using two curving lengths of plywood to define different functional zones. This design choice was influenced by an earlier experimental project by Tato Architects in 2013, which involved a public toilet building on Shodoshima Island where curved walls were used to divide space. While that project focused on a new build, Shimada believed the concept held greater potential when applied to the renovation of an older structure, allowing for a blend of historical context with modern spatial dynamics. The plywood screens were strategically placed within the house. One screen was installed along the north-eastern side, creating a private area that encloses a bedroom and an adjoining closet. The second screen was positioned towards the back of the house, wrapping around a bathroom and a guest bedroom. This curvilinear partitioning system allowed for a fluid transition between areas, contrasting with the rigid divisions of the original layout. The front portion of the building was specifically designed to be more open plan, maximizing natural light and offering direct access to a newly designed narrow garden. Budgetary constraints influenced the material selection for the curved walls. Initially, 20-millimetre-thick plywood was considered, but it proved to be too flimsy for the desired structural integrity and aesthetic. To overcome this, a solution was devised where a framework of steel rods was sandwiched between layers of plywood, providing the necessary stability while maintaining the curved form. This simple yet effective modification allowed the architects to achieve their design vision without exceeding the project's financial limits. The redesign also incorporated new flooring throughout the living areas, featuring a mortar floor with integrated underfloor heating for enhanced comfort. The bathroom was finished with polycarbonate plastic, offering a clean and modern aesthetic. A small loft space was added above the main bedroom, accessible via a ladder, providing additional utility. For the exterior of the house, a new cladding of charred cedar boards was chosen, contributing to a refreshed facade while respecting traditional Japanese architectural elements. #TatoArchitects #Hyogo #Japan #ResidentialArchitecture #HouseRenovation #JapaneseHouses #PlywoodInterior #CurvedWalls #ModernRenovation

This article presents the 'House in Tama' project, designed by Cheng Hao Chung Architect, located on the border of Kanagawa and Tokyo, Japan. The house is situated on the southern slope of a hill, offering ample sunlight and a clear atmosphere, despite being in a dense residential neighborhood. The design approach for this 116 square meter residence, completed in 2024, focused on integrating with the natural topography and maximizing light and views while ensuring privacy and comfort for the inhabitants. The architectural concept emphasizes a multi-layered structure that adapts to the sloping site. The design creates a sequence of distinct yet interconnected spaces, each with its own relationship to the exterior environment. The architects utilized a combination of concrete, wood, and glass as primary materials, contributing to both the structural integrity and the aesthetic of the house. Concrete provides a robust foundation and defines the main volumes, while wood introduces warmth and texture in interior finishes. Large glass panels are strategically placed to blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces, allowing natural light to penetrate deeply into the living areas and offering framed views of the surrounding landscape and the distant Buddhist cemetery. A key aspect of the design is the careful consideration of the site's unique characteristics. The building form responds to the contours of the hill, creating a stepped profile that minimizes its visual impact and blends with the terrain. The internal layout is organized to take advantage of the southern orientation for optimal sunlight exposure and to create a comfortable microclimate within the house. The use of varied ceiling heights and spatial configurations contributes to a dynamic and engaging living experience, moving from more intimate, enclosed areas to expansive, open-plan zones that facilitate family interaction and entertaining. The project involved collaboration with structural engineer Jun Yanagimuro and constructor Sekkeikomu. The construction process highlighted attention to detail in material selection and craftsmanship, aiming for a durable and aesthetically pleasing outcome. The interior spaces feature a minimalist aesthetic, allowing the quality of materials and the interplay of light and shadow to define the atmosphere. The design includes functional elements such as a modern kitchen, comfortable living areas, and private bedrooms, all designed with a focus on usability and long-term sustainability. Overall, the House in Tama demonstrates an architectural solution that responds thoughtfully to its context, balancing modern design principles with respect for the natural and cultural landscape. The project showcases how a residential building in a challenging urban-natural interface can achieve both architectural distinction and a high quality of life for its residents through careful planning, material selection, and a strong conceptual vision. The dwelling serves as a contemporary example of Japanese residential architecture, prioritizing light, views, and a harmonious relationship with its immediate surroundings. #ResidentialArchitecture #JapaneseArchitecture #ModernDesign #SlopingSite #NaturalLight #Concrete #Wood #Glass #UrbanIntegration #SustainableDesign

The "Sunroom House in Tsukaguchi" project by FujiwaraMuro Architects is situated in a tranquil residential area, replacing the client's original family home. The architectural design strategically divides the structure into two main volumes: an LDK (living, dining, and kitchen) area and separate private rooms. A key design element is the use of split-level floors within the main living space, which serves to enhance the perception of spaciousness. This vertical segmentation also fosters improved connectivity and communication among occupants across the dining room and kitchen areas, allowing for visual and auditory interaction across different levels. The residence was completed in 2024 and spans an area of 105 square meters. The project's photography was carried out by Katsuya. Taira (studioREM). FujiwaraMuro Architects acted as the lead architects for this residential undertaking in Japan, focusing on a house typology. The design emphasizes thoughtful spatial organization to maximize both functionality and aesthetic appeal within a relatively compact footprint. The split-level approach, common in modern Japanese residential architecture, is utilized here to create dynamic interior volumes and distinct zones while maintaining an open feel. The overall design philosophy appears to prioritize a sense of openness and inter-connectivity, which is crucial in urban residential settings where space is often limited. By integrating the LDK and private rooms into a cohesive yet differentiated layout, the architects aim to support contemporary family life, providing both communal gathering areas and quiet retreats. The project reflects a careful consideration of the site's context and the client's needs, resulting in a design that is both practical and visually engaging. The selection of materials and finishes, while not explicitly detailed in the provided text, would typically align with modern Japanese architectural trends, often incorporating natural elements, minimalist aesthetics, and efficient use of light. The term "Sunroom House" in the title suggests a focus on natural light and potentially a specific area designed to capture sunlight, contributing to the dwelling's ambiance and energy efficiency, though further details on this aspect are not available in the given text. #ResidentialArchitecture #JapaneseArchitecture #SplitLevelDesign #InteriorDesign #ModernHome #FujiwaraMuroArchitects #Tsukaguchi #ArchitecturalPhotography #SpaceOptimization

The article details the 'Division House' project, a new residential building designed by Takei Nabeshima Architects (TNA) for a couple from Tokyo, situated in the dense forest of Suwa in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The architects, Makoto Takei and Chie Nabeshima, faced the challenge of a lack of clear reference points in the vast forest, which is only five minutes from a busy motorway. Upon their initial visit, they could only identify a pond, a creek, and a spring well, with the slightly sloping ground being the only indication of their position at the foot of the Yatsugatake mountains. This disorientation inspired TNA to design the house itself as a navigational aid or 'signpost' within the environment. The design concept centers on integrating the house with its natural surroundings rather than separating from it. The building is arranged along a north-south axis. Its most distinctive feature is an asymmetrical pitched roof, which, when viewed from above, resembles an arrow, effectively turning the house into a compass. The main structure of the house consists of a large cube, accommodating essential living spaces such as the kitchen, living area, bedroom, and a sunroom. An adjoining smaller cube serves as an annex. The interior layout is strategically planned to frame specific views of the natural elements observed during their first visit. At ground level, the walls are positioned to direct views towards four distinct zones: the pond, the creek, the spring well, and the entrance road. Inside the main building, four cross-shaped walls further partition the space, mirroring how the exterior walls delineate the forest itself. This architectural choice reinforces the connection between the indoor and outdoor environments. The materials used emphasize this immersion in nature, with the structure, internal walls, furniture, and window sashes all crafted from wood, creating a cohesive and natural aesthetic. Makoto Takei notes that this extensive use of wood ensures that residents experience a complete immersion in the forest while inside the house. Chie Nabeshima explains that the Division House does not push the forest away but instead defines it, creating 'spaces in-between the trees.' This approach allows the architecture to organize the seemingly endless forest into comprehensible segments, creating varied perceptions of distance and scale, such as 'small and close distances, big rooms and small rooms, this forest and that forest.' The project, updated in October 2022, exemplifies a thoughtful architectural response to a challenging natural site, turning a potential obstacle into a fundamental design principle that enhances the living experience. #Architecture #ResidentialDesign #NaganoPrefecture #JapaneseArchitecture #TNAArchitects #ForestHouse #BiophilicDesign #SustainableMaterials #ArchitecturalInnovation

Hélène Séguin and Vincent Lavoie, inspired by their 1996 trip to Japan, embarked on a journey to design and build a timber-frame home that blended their needs with Japanese Zen elements. They envisioned a residence that would offer balance and calm, surrounded by natural beauty. The couple spent years meticulously developing their plans, collaborating with ConSpecTek, a structural timber-house design firm, and architect technician Carl Fournier to translate their vision into detailed 2D/3D blueprints. In 2001, Séguin and Lavoie acquired a 5,109-square-meter lot in Hudson, bordered by a protected natural forest reserve. The construction of the B.C. fir timber frame, crafted by Heirloom Timber Frames, began in the spring of 2007. Donald Elliot, a general contractor from Hudson, was enlisted to oversee the project, ensuring a professional and committed team was in place. The self-build project presented its share of challenges. A significant budget overrun occurred when the selected metal roofing firm became unavailable, necessitating the choice of a more expensive alternative. This unexpected cost led to the postponement of certain additions, such as a garage. Despite these hurdles, the couple, along with their two young sons, moved into their partially completed home in February 2008. Over the years, Séguin and Lavoie have continued to enhance their property, adding a pond, sunrooms, a spa with a pergola, and extensive landscaping. The house itself measures 18.28 meters by 13.71 meters and is clad with horizontal white pine planks stained a cedar color. It features cathedral ceilings up to 7.31 meters high in some areas. With no basement, most of the approximately 233 square meters of living space is on the ground floor, complemented by a 20-meter mezzanine housing the main bedroom. Toitures Vaillancourt installed the galvanized sheet-metal roof, and the facade is adorned with a mix of shrubs, climbing plants, and seasonal decorations. Upon entering the house, the Japanese influence becomes immediately apparent. The entryway features slate slabs covered in a glossy, wet-looking epoxy resin, evoking the imagery of a natural riverbed. A Japanese cherry-wood lamp illuminates these details. Two large openings in the wall, designed for glass aquariums that house koi during winter, separate the entryway from the kitchen and offer a view through to the living room and the forest beyond. The dining room incorporates a unique feature: a hollow space 45.72 centimeters lower than the floor, allowing for Japanese-style seating with legs comfortably tucked under the suar wood table. Tatami mats and carbonized bamboo plank floorboards enhance comfort and style. An antique Chinese buffet, acquired during the couple's time in Luxembourg, adds a touch of international flair. The dining room and sunrooms offer views of the pond, with one sunroom serving as an extension of Séguin's psychology office during the summer months. The kitchen, designed for a modern and clean aesthetic, features stainless steel. Pierre Morency Architecte, known for his restaurant kitchen designs, contributed to the layout and suggested a 4.57-meter-long B.C. fir beam as the island counter. Stainless steel cabinets, designed and manufactured by Cajo Métallurgie Inc., were added later around the refrigerator. The kitchen and living room form a cohesive, airy space with Chinese slate flooring from Ramacieri Soligo. Radiant heating from hot-water pipes embedded in the concrete slab ensures warmth throughout the house. A notable architectural detail in the living room is a curved lower timber beam, mimicking a Japanese Torii gate. The space is furnished with an Italian leather sofa purchased in Luxembourg and an antique Chinese cabinet adorned with photos of jazz musicians. Pine wood steps attached to a single galvanized steel beam lead to the main bedroom on the mezzanine, with a custom-made handrail by a Dorion tinsmith and tightly stretched wire cables extending along the mezzanine. The main bedroom, an open-concept ensuite overlooking the living room, features a king-size mattress on tatami mats on an elevated level. The room receives ample light from the living room's upper windows, which align perfectly with the mezzanine. A free-standing Japanese-style vanity required careful planning, including the creation of a false beam to accommodate plumbing without obstructing light. The ceiling is decorated with bamboo slats and natural bamboo poles. Outdoors, the pergola is constructed from B.C. fir beams by Heirloom Timber Frames, and the spa base is made of IPE wood, known for its durability and resistance to humidity, rot, and insects. The exterior pond, a focal point visible from several rooms, was built by Jean Brulé of Jardins Aquadesign, drawing inspiration from a Japanese pond visited by the couple. It features three levels for various aquatic plants and is surrounded by natural stones laid by JPL Excavation and Landscaping. The pond is home to 25 to 30 koi, some purchased and others adopted, which are hand-fed daily. The residents affirm that their home, surrounded by nature, embodies a peaceful and Zen atmosphere, fostering a sense of balance and calm, with ongoing plans for future enhancements to their personal paradise. #JapaneseDesign #TimberFrameHome #ZenLifestyle #HudsonArchitecture #CustomHomeBuild #InteriorDesign #SustainableLiving #LandscapeDesign #HomeRenovation

The Byoubugaura house, designed by Japanese firm Takeshi Hosaka Architects, presents a distinctive approach to residential architecture, camouflaging its unique interactive spaces within a seemingly conventional concrete box and glass facade. The exterior maintains a regular appearance, yet a closer inspection reveals a complex internal structure that challenges traditional spatial perceptions. The residence is structured with a basement level and two floors above ground. The architectural design is characterized by its innovative use of concrete floor plates, which are dramatically curved upwards at both the front and rear facades. This curvature serves a dual purpose: it strategically obstructs direct views into the living areas, enhancing privacy from neighboring structures, and simultaneously creates a unique visual effect where the interior spaces appear sunken below the established structural grid. A key design element is the blurring of spatial distinctions between the different levels. Despite being on separate floors, the curved concrete plates create an illusion of uniformity, making each level feel interconnected and spatially ambiguous. This design choice contributes to an unexpected sense of depth and enclosure within the home. The integration of wooden floors throughout the interior complements the concrete structure by providing warmth and reflecting the indirect natural light that filters into the spaces. This strategic use of materials ensures the home remains livable and inviting, despite its unconventional concrete forms. Further enhancing the home's interactive quality are the four large glass panes on each level. These panels are designed to slide back and forth, offering various open-air configurations and allowing residents to control the flow of natural light and ventilation. This flexibility transforms the living spaces, adapting them to different moods and environmental conditions. A circular staircase, an integral part of the design, slices through the curved floor plate, connecting the levels. This architectural feature not only provides vertical circulation but also exposes a small section of the floor's construction, offering a glimpse into the building's structural ingenuity. The project details highlight the meticulous planning and execution behind Byoubugaura. The structural engineering was handled by Kenji Nawa, with photography by Koji Fujii / Nacasa&Partners Inc. The client for this innovative residence was Toshiyuki Kondo. Located in Yokohama, Japan, the house is constructed from reinforced concrete. It occupies a site area of 65.16 square meters, with a building area of 30.28 square meters, and a total floor area of 90.84 square meters, distributed across the basement, first, and second floors. The building stands at a height of 5494 mm, comprising a basement, first floor, and second floor. The design phase spanned from March 2011 to September 2011, with construction commencing in September 2011 and reaching completion in the spring of 2012. This project exemplifies an architectural exploration of material properties and spatial dynamics, creating a home that is both aesthetically striking and functionally adaptable. #ArchitecturalInnovation #ConcreteDesign #JapaneseArchitecture #ResidentialArchitecture #TakeshiHosakaArchitects #InteriorDesign #SlidingGlassPanels #SpatialBlurring #ModernHome

The article explores the ancient East Asian design principle of *shakkei*, or "borrowed scenery," and its application in contemporary home and garden design. *Shakkei* involves seamlessly integrating distant landscapes into a garden or architectural setting, creating a deep connection between the built environment and nature. Originating in Japanese gardens as early as the Heian period and formalized in Chinese design during the 17th century, *shakkei* gained popularity among modernist architects in the 1960s. The technique goes beyond mere window framing, requiring a careful analysis of the surrounding landscape to create a harmonious composition that incorporates the borrowed elements with depth, scale, and texture. Various examples illustrate the concept's practical application. The Tairyu-Sanso garden in Kyoto, designed by Ogawa Jihei VII, incorporates Mount Higashiyama into its composition, effectively masking the surrounding modern city. Kengo Kuma and Associates' Suteki House in Oregon utilizes *shakkei* to frame exterior views, making distant oak trees feel like an integral part of the home's visual space. The architects explain that this technique visually expands the limits of the property. Genkō-an, a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, features distinct windows that frame the borrowed landscape with the precision of a painted composition. Similarly, the Keishin-en Garden at Jikkō-in temple in Kyoto strategically integrates views of the mountains across the valley. The Adachi Museum Garden in Yasugi, Japan, consistently ranked as the country’s most beautiful garden, is also designed using *shakkei* principles, with rugged stones echoing distant craggy mountains. Architect Clinton Cole of CplusC Architectural Workshop highlights that while Western gardens often prioritize symmetry, East Asian gardens, through *shakkei*, celebrate natural landscapes by framing specific elements to connect exterior views with interior spaces. CplusC Architectural Workshop's Totoro House in Sydney exemplifies this, using various window and door openings to frame different aspects of the backyard, creating a natural transition between inside and out. The principal bedroom’s circular window, inspired by *shakkei*, provides privacy while maintaining a connection to the rear courtyard. American architect Allison Ewing applied *shakkei* principles in her Lantern at Linkhorn Bay residence in Virginia Beach, using cantilevered rooflines and floor-to-ceiling windows to emphasize the site's beauty. The home's design elements, including hovering roof planes, reinforce the natural horizon, shoreline, and distant landscapes, creating an associative link between the foreground and background. Australian architect Lucy Clemenger similarly used *shakkei* in her Melbourne home to expand the sense of interior space by blurring boundaries with a neighboring park through glazed open-plan living areas and strategically framed views. The article concludes by acknowledging the contemporary challenge of *shakkei* in an increasingly developed world, where maintaining distant views is difficult, underscoring the enduring relevance and importance of this design philosophy for fostering a connection with nature. #Shakkei #JapaneseGardenDesign #BorrowedScenery #EastAsianDesign #ArchitecturalIntegration #LandscapeDesign #HomeDesign #NatureConnection #ModernArchitecture

Kiri Architects has designed a compact family home in Nishitōkyō, an area west of Tokyo's city centre, known as Light-Filled Stair Hall. This 79-square-meter residence is shortlisted in the Urban House category of Dezeen Awards 2022. The design centers around a significantly expanded stairwell that occupies approximately one-third of the total living space, transforming it from a mere transitional element into a versatile social hub for the family of four. Inspired by the *engawa*, a traditional Japanese veranda, principal Keisuke Kiri envisioned the staircase as a dynamic space capable of various functions beyond simple circulation. The stairwell stretches across the entire width of the house, positioned directly behind a full-height glazed facade. This strategic placement allows ample daylight to permeate the interior while simultaneously providing a visual buffer that offers privacy from neighboring properties, a crucial consideration in densely populated Tokyo where land parcels are often small. Constructed with a minimalist approach, the staircase features 50-millimeter-thick wooden treads and risers supported by a system of timber columns and suspended steel rods. This open structure not only maximizes light penetration but also integrates the staircase seamlessly into the living environment. The wide stair treads are designed to be comfortable for sitting and relaxing, and the handrail can even serve as an extended washing line on sunny days, highlighting its multifunctional intent. The ground floor of the house features an open-plan layout intelligently divided by a stepped floor level. One section accommodates a kitchen and dining area with a large island counter, while the other functions as a lounge, complete with a family piano. A wall of integrated storage, including a pantry, flanks this area. Upstairs, a family bathroom is located adjacent to a spacious bedroom. This bedroom is fronted by six glazed doors, which provide flexibility for future subdivision of the space as the children grow, allowing for adaptability in room configuration. An additional feature is a small work-from-home area, thoughtfully incorporated with shelving and a desk at the end of the first-floor landing of the stairwell. Light-Filled Stair Hall is recognized for its innovative use of space and its response to the challenges of urban living, making it a contender for the Urban House of the Year at the Dezeen Awards. The project demonstrates how architectural elements, traditionally seen as functional, can be reimagined to enhance social interaction and adaptability within a compact urban dwelling. #JapaneseArchitecture #ResidentialArchitecture #TokyoHouses #StaircaseDesign #CompactLiving #UrbanHouse #DezeenAwards #KiriArchitects

Architect Andrew Lister designed a distinctive home for actor Yuri Kinugawa and film producer Owen Hughes in the Auckland suburb of Waterview. The residence, characterized by its tall silhouette, narrow upper window, and a blank cedar-clad facade, adheres to the principles of the Direct Compass, a Japanese discipline akin to feng shui. The home's exterior, covered in cedar weatherboards, initially appears utilitarian, yet conceals a thoughtfully designed interior. The house's structure is composed of two primary boxes connected by a passageway and an adjoining bathroom. Despite its compact footprint, the design creates an illusion of greater spaciousness, as noted by Hughes. A prominent feature of the living room is a two-story bookcase spanning the entire northern wall, housing Hughes’ extensive book collection. This vertical storage solution ingeniously maximizes space, drawing the eye upwards and adding visual texture without encroaching on floor area. The central area of the home is laid out efficiently, with the kitchen to the left and the bedroom to the right. Above these spaces, two offices are stacked, accessible via a stairway at the rear of the room. The interior is enriched by family antiques and Japanese textiles, which introduce complementary textures, transforming the angular space into a welcoming environment. Following Direct Compass principles, the bedroom, considered vital for family relationships, overlooks a small zen garden on the south side of the house. This placement is believed to promote mental clarity due to cooler temperatures. A six-foot-long passageway clearly delineates the transition from the public kitchen and dining areas to the private bedroom. The traditional Japanese bathroom, situated off the central passageway, serves as a space for washing before bathing in a wood-lined onsen (tub). While the north side of the house offers views of an estuary, the street-facing facade maintains a minimalist, private appearance. In stark contrast, the west-facing side features a double-height glass wall that can be fully opened, merging the living space with a veranda. This outdoor area overlooks the garden, estuary, and harbor, providing a setting for observing sunsets and occasional dolphin sightings. The home's exterior features low-maintenance Canadian cedar cladding and aluminum joinery, designed to age gracefully and harmonize with the surrounding garden's sculptural desert plants. The durability of these materials is crucial, given the home's exposure to south-westerly winds laden with salt from the estuary, a condition the chosen plants tolerate well. #JapaneseDesign #BoxHome #TwoStoryBookcase #SmallSpaceLiving #DirectCompass #AucklandArchitecture #CedarCladding #ZenGarden #OpenPlanLiving

The Tokyo-based architecture firm matsuokasatoshitamurayuki, led by Satoshi Matsuoka and Yuki Tamura, has completed a courtyard house in a commuter town near Tokyo. This residential project features a distinctive pleated radial floor plan and integrates a small garden and outdoor living spaces around its perimeter. The design aims to strike a balance between interior privacy and connection to the surrounding environment, drawing inspiration from traditional Japanese house designs, particularly the 'geya' architectural element. The design strategy involved lowering a small roof attached to the main house to align with the site's borders, following the natural contours of a berm. This approach, combined with the pleated plan, creates varied depths within the structure. The architects aimed to preserve the appearance of the area's characteristic 'geya' house design while fostering the community culture associated with small gardens and berms. The pleated internal spaces are designed with initial specific functions but are intended to adapt to evolving uses over time. The house is configured to accommodate two families within a limited floor space, meaning individual rooms are not designed to be self-sufficient but rather part of a larger interconnected whole. Key interior elements, such as counters and tables, are positioned to extend beyond their designated areas, promoting a fluid transition between spaces. Abundant natural sunlight is a central feature, filtering through windows to illuminate every corner of the home. The 'geya' section, located beneath the small roof, provides a comfortable, sunlit area near a window, suitable for family gatherings or individual relaxation. This space is envisioned to be versatile, functioning as a communal hub while also allowing for separate activities. A central room, measuring 4.5 x 5.5 meters with a ceiling height of 4 meters, forms the core of the house. This area offers a private, bright space for the family, flexible enough to adapt to future needs and changes. The design consciously integrates the concept of a courtyard house, where internal spaces are protected while maintaining a connection to the outside. Unlike typical courtyard houses that are often closed off from the exterior, this residence opens sensitively towards the surrounding berm, ensuring privacy for the residents while remaining approachable to neighbors. The architects describe it as a "closed home" that allows the family to live in peace. The exterior of the main house features a tower-like central room, which serves as a symbolic icon for the family. By adopting and adapting the characteristic appearance of vernacular homes in the area, the architects hope the house will become an enduring and integrated part of the local community. The project details include a wooden structure, with wood and steel as major materials. The site area is 166.58 square meters, with a building area of 82.40 square meters and a total floor area of 101.72 square meters. The structural consultant was ASA – Akira Suzuki, and the general contractor was Yasumatsu Tekken. #Architecture #ResidentialDesign #CourtyardHouse #PleatedFloorPlan #JapaneseArchitecture #Tokyo #GeyaConcept #FamilyHome #ArchitecturalInnovation

A Cat Tree House, located in Kamakura, Japan, is a private dwelling and work studio designed by architect Tan Yamanouchi for himself, his partner, and their two cats. The design of the residence prioritizes the needs and behaviors of the feline inhabitants, integrating them seamlessly with human living spaces. Yamanouchi, drawing from ten years of observation, identified three primary cat needs: the ability to choose comfortable temperature levels, the desire to be in the same room as owners while maintaining personal space, and the necessity of multiple safe hiding spots. These considerations informed the core architectural concept of the home. The residence is structured around a large spiral staircase, or caracole, featuring multiple nooks and crannies. This central element includes an atrium with a skylight, allowing natural light to penetrate the interior. The staircase steps are designed with varied rises, based on the body measurements of the cats, resulting in 23 distinct floor levels. This stratification creates fine layers of temperature zones, enabling the cats to move freely and find their preferred climate throughout the day. The run of each step is generously set at 900 millimeters, providing ample space for cats to hide, maintain distance, or rest undisturbed. The caracole's design draws inspiration from a tamasudare, a traditional Japanese bamboo screen, influencing its loosely woven and adaptable structure. This exposed architectural feature also addresses Kamakura's highly humid climate, complementing the split-level design. A buffer space, one meter above ground level, is integrated between the raft foundation and the floor. This area facilitates airflow and accommodates hot water pipes for floor heating, contributing to effective temperature and humidity control within the house. Around the caracole, various functional spaces are arranged on different levels, including a bedroom, guest room, studio, kitchen, dining room, and bathroom. These rooms are designed not only for human comfort but also to serve as potential hiding places for the cats, particularly when guests are present. Fall prevention handrails in the atrium are inspired by Kamakura's mountain views and are crafted from delicate stainless steel. A bookshelf is integrated along the spiral steps, transforming the passage into a multi-level library for humans and cozy resting spots for cats. One section of the circular steps extends backward, leading to a window positioned at cat eye level, providing an outdoor view. The final step of the staircase is elevated to the height of a human chair, creating a porch-like area for the cats. The house's exterior form comprises two interlocking L-shaped volumes with shed roofs of varying angles. This configuration simplifies construction and harmonizes with the natural landscape of Kamakura. The architect also intentionally designed window placements and heights to allow passersby to observe the cats, integrating them into the architectural exterior and local scenery. In terms of landscape design, the garden is divided into two main zones: an Approach Zone leading to the entrance and front garden, and a Terrace Zone with a wooden deck and kitchen garden. The Approach Zone features approximately 80 species of plants, providing a diverse color palette, while the Terrace Zone hosts 20 species of edible herbs. An outdoor space covered with fragrant wood chips offers a place to sit and dine, completing the home's comprehensive design that caters to both human and feline occupants, harmonizing their needs within a thoughtfully constructed environment. #CatFriendlyDesign #JapaneseArchitecture #SpiralStaircase #ResidentialArchitecture #PetCenteredDesign #SustainableDesign #KamakuraHome #MultiLevelLiving #ArchitecturalInnovation

Architects Daisuke Ibano and Ryosuke Fujii of id+fr designed the 'Diagonal House' in a densely populated residential area of Tokyo for a couple and their children. The project addressed the challenge of strict height limitations due to category 1 height control district regulations on the front half of the lot, requiring an innovative approach to urban housing. The primary goal was to integrate the kitchen, living space, and terrace, which were important to the client who spends significant time cooking. This led to the implementation of a design featuring staggered floors, aiming to achieve spatial continuity and facilitate smooth vertical circulation throughout the residence. To enhance the sense of spatial continuity, the architects incorporated a slab above the living room that folds upwards along a slanted line. Additionally, a portion of the uppermost slab was partially raised to create a large kitchen terrace opening, further connecting indoor and outdoor spaces. These design choices resulted in unique features that encourage diverse activities within the home. For instance, the sloped floor of the terrace is suitable for sunbathing, while the area beneath the raised section of the top slab forms an alcove that can be utilized for sleeping. The architectural compositions extended to other design elements, including platforms integrated at a diagonal angle alongside the stairwell that navigates between the staggered floors. Correspondingly, storage units on the opposite wall also adopted a diagonal angle. A triangular light garden was positioned at the end of a large opening in the living room, establishing a diagonally oriented axis that contributes to a more spacious feel within the interior. The numerous diagonal lines throughout the 'Diagonal House' were carefully considered to optimize visibility and establish interconnected relationships between various spaces. These diagonals became a defining characteristic of the design, fostering a sense of openness and connection to the external environment. The architects aimed to create a dwelling that not only harmonizes with the varied architectural forms of the surrounding residential buildings but also provides a microenvironment where the family can experience a strong sense of urban life from any point within their home. The project successfully blends functionality with an aesthetic that responds to its tight urban context, offering inventive solutions for modern living in Tokyo. #TokyoArchitecture #ResidentialDesign #SpatialContinuity #DiagonalElements #StaggeredFloors #UrbanHousing #JapaneseArchitecture #idfrArchitecture #InnovativeDesign