Who wouldn’t want a house that looks, feels, and probably smells like an art museum? Well…probably not everyone, but certainly the artist and collector who tasked Ryumei Fujiki and Yukiko Sato of F.A.D.S. with doing just that. The House for Contemporary Art is a standout design that emerges from the outskirts of Tokyo, Japan to present something not often seen in residential architecture. A quick glance at the stark, seamless, white exterior provides instant understanding of what the designer set out to achieve: a house that is a museum but is actually still a home. Continue reading →

Located along a quiet residential street near the foothills of Mount Shigi, Japan, sits a home that is a vast departure from the neighboring houses. As if illuminated by an overhead spotlight, this small white-roofed gem by Yosuke Ichii Architects makes a bold statement that simply cannot be overlooked. Continue reading →

Located on a lot of only 43.21 square meters in Osaka, Japan, the House In Tamatsu by Kenji Architectural Studio is a huge departure from the two-story wooden home that once occupied this site. A decidedly minimal structure, the House In Tamatsu is a fresh approach to comfortable living on a small footprint. Continue reading →

Narrow residential building sites are common in Osaka, Japan. Though the creative design solutions to maximize and empower living spaces displayed here is truly uncommon. Yoshihiro Yamamoto Architects Atelier design of this five level two bedroom modern home makes the site feel abundant. Continue reading →

A multi-level family home at the foot of Mount Hiei in Kyoto, Japan, embraces tradition with modern twists. Designed by UZU Architects, the modern house rambles over four levels. The scheme is familiar: a steep gable roof with deep overhangs supported by vertical timber-clad walls. The forms are traditional, yet the materials and colors are contemporary. In bright sunlight, the wooden entry walls glow mustard yellow. Together with a dove grey door, it is a quietly warm and inviting entrance. A narrow horizontal ribbon window pierces the introverted and respectful public side. Small square skylights puncture the coal grey standing seam metal roof. Continue reading →

Simple living for empty nesters is well deserved. In the Osaka home that Yosuke Ichii designed for an elderly couple, space and maintenance are pared down to basics. Just 100 sq.m., the small L-shaped house pivots around a mature camphor tree. Continue reading →

What a unique way to define a duplex home. The Arch Wall House by NAF Architect & Design Co. uses the two homes’ connection as a separation. It is not only a powerful division, but also a connecting drive and distinguishing element for both homes. Continue reading →

A car showroom and residence in Tokyo is a genius execution of geometry. Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Co., Ltd. created a private family home above a showroom for imported cars. Both floors encompass just over 600 sq.m. Continue reading →

In Nasu, Japan, an area well regarded as a summer resort, a married couple built a home whose form harkens back to ancient Japanese, African, and Mongolian structures. The clients and their architect, Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Co., Ltd., made all decisions to mitigate the negative effects of building on the wooded site. This resulted in a unique assemblage of teepee like rooms that act independently and as a cohesive home. Continue reading →

Corner lots carry loads of responsibility. NAF Architect and Design created a home whose halves share that role in distinctly different manners. Human nature compels us to always take the shortest route and on a vacant corner property, we’d take that diagonal short cut. That bypass is used here to create the intersection of a flat roof home with a gable roof house. The home sensitively addresses the nature of the corner lot. Continue reading →