In Tokyo, Japan there’s a unique house that starts with a garden courtyard and ends with a rooftop terrace: House J. A two-story building with a total floor area of 100sqm captures all the attention because of its spiral appearance. Continue reading →

One might say that there’s no universally recognized exact definition for the tree element, neither botanically nor in common language…however, in Tokyo there’s an architectonic reference to this biological organism: Tree House. Built for a couple in a dense residential area, this two-story building has a total floor area of 80sqm and its main goal was to own as much space and light as possible on a very tight site. Continue reading →

In Tokyo, Japan, a small three-story building, with a project area of 55sqm, puts to the test the gentle art of manipulating translucency by using a special outer skin that clads the entire facade: translucent fiber plates. Continue reading →

In Shiga, Japan there’s a residence that has something animalistic about it…I’m talking about its anthropomorphic volume and shape, an enclosed spiral movement that reminds a sleeping cat. In fact, Japanese culture has numerous examples of carving wooden cats that appeared lifelike in various shapes. House in Nagahama is positioned in a residential area resembling one of these sculptures, only on a larger scale with a total floor area of 133sqm distributed in two levels. Continue reading →

Contemporary Japanese Architecture often has the ability to transform dull sites into amazing spots. In Tokyo, Japan there’s a small building that supports this rare quality: Outdoor House. A two-story building with a total floor area of 72sqm is located on a tiny residential plot stacked between two existing volumes. Its bright white appearance seems to illuminate the dark suburban area while keeping interiors airy yet private. Continue reading →

In Kanagawa, Japan contemporary architecture shows us once again how to make the best with a tiny plot of land in a tight suburban area. House in Hiyoshi incarnates the impossible architectonic answer to a difficult surrounding context: a residential district and a station on the south side and a city park on the north side confines an irregular site plan. A two-story building with a total floor area of 91.10sqm assumes a solid white presence, closed out from all sides, except for a surprising huge window to the outside world… Continue reading →

In Aichi, Japan there’s an enigmatic building called Small House. Apparently, this single-story volume conceals the required domestic program for a couple in their 50’s. A total floor area of 80sqm demonstrates the veracity behind the genesis of its name: Small House. Don´t be fooled by the scale and size of this contemporary residence for there’s a bunch of details that transform it into a real inhabitable diamond. Continue reading →

In Hyogo, Japan a multi-level house beautifully defies a challenging space in a deep tight site. House in Nada is a small single family home distributed in three levels occupying a total floor area of 63sqm. Nothing is what it seems inside this vertical building… Continue reading →

Architecture is often similar to a sculptural exercise…House in Sanbonmatsu reveals this kind of resemblance. In Kagawa, Japan a two-story house occupies a site around twice the dimension of neighboring properties, so a gently sloping roof was developed in order to minimize the volume impact. Removed sections of this roof demonstrate the sculptural influences behind the design process, creating a central void for an open-air courtyard. A vibrant volumetric appearance seems to be perfectly merged in this suburban residential area. Continue reading →

House in Yoro testifies a truly architectonic metamorphosis! In Gifu, Japan a small two-story warehouse, with a total floor area of 132sqm, was transformed into a contemporary residence full of spatial surprises. Continue reading →