The house, literally squeezed into a narrow triangle between the road and the river, was designed by Mizuishi Architects Atelier by architect Kota Mizuishi. Due to the peculiarities of the site, the house itself also became triangular, which led to the unusual shape of the rooms, but did not at all worsen the comfort of living. The area of the house is 52.24 square meters, now a young couple with a daughter lives in it.
The building has two floors. The first is occupied by the bedroom, and it is located almost opposite the entrance. The second is the living room and kitchen. Unusual layout, we admit. This is due to the fact that the second floor is much larger than the first. The plot is so small that there was no parking space. As a result, the architect reduced the area of the first floor – he managed to get a carport.
The interior decoration of the house is very light, which also makes it possible to visually increase the space. In addition, the windows on both sides of the house are large and located opposite – it is always light in the rooms, and a view of the river opens from the second floor..
At the mezzanine level, right under the triangular roof, it turned out to organize a small play area for the owners’ daughter. In the future, a full-fledged children’s room should appear here.
On the first floor with a bedroom, there is only one partition separating the bathroom. To solve the problem of excessive openness, but at the same time not to clutter up the space with walls, white curtains are used that allow you to close the sleeping places and dressing room.
The kitchen is quite spacious, modern, with all the necessary appliances. There’s even a dining area for the whole family to get together for dinner..
Note that the bathroom is by no means tiny! Quite spacious and comfortable room with everything you need. It is noteworthy that on the second floor, in its narrowest part, it was even possible to organize a spare room, which now serves as a library, but can become an additional bedroom.
The author of this project managed to successfully use the provided plot of land, which was very small, but allowed the owners to live in their own house surrounded by an overpopulated metropolis.
What architectural techniques are used in Japan to create such narrow houses that appear small from the outside but are spacious on the inside?
How do they manage to create a narrow house in Japan that appears compact from the outside but actually offers spaciousness inside? Is it due to innovative design techniques or clever use of space-saving furniture? I’m curious to know the secret behind this architectural marvel.
The creation of narrow yet spacious houses in Japan is mainly attributed to a combination of innovative design techniques and clever use of space-saving furniture. Architects and designers utilize various strategies to maximize limited space, such as utilizing every available inch, incorporating multi-purpose areas, utilizing verticality, and emphasizing natural light. Additionally, modular and adaptable furniture is often incorporated to optimize functionality and flexibility. The concept of minimalism also plays a significant role, as it promotes decluttering and prioritizing essential items. By integrating these approaches, architects are able to achieve a remarkable balance between compactness and spaciousness, resulting in the architectural marvel of narrow houses in Japan.