This grey-rendered house was made with strategically placed windows to produce privacy for residents in a densely populated region of Japan .
Japanese architect Kouichi Kimura, founder of local firm Type, developed Cozy Residence for a restricted plot in a densely populated residential area of Japan’s Shiga prefecture.
He proposed generating an largely inward-dealing with house filled with a selection of spaces, from quiet nooks to far more open family regions.
“The house is created at one of the small sites crowded with houses and surrounded by narrow roads,” explained Kimura. “With this kind of circumstances, we suggested the beautiful and compact house that involves enriched inner spaces.”
Associated story: Kouichi Kimura’s Scape House utilizes a assortment of windows to develop a hierarchy of views
“The comfortableness, which is developed by the small room and would hardly be realised by a broad space, was my major fascination of this house,” he said.
Externally, the walls of the home are coated with a layer of muted grey render. The upper storey is greater than the decrease floor, generating a lip that overhangs a porch at the front, while a sheltered parking space has been recessed into the reduce volume.
Two bedrooms and a hallway get up the remainder of the ground floor strategy, whilst an open-strategy living location occupies the upper storey.
“The second floor is protruded towards the front street to the very best feasible extent allowed by the relevant regulation so that the highest volume can be secured for the use of the living room, dining kitchen, little versatile area, and wet area,” said the architect.
A white staircase with a slender grey handrail leads from the entrance hall directly into the major residing space. Little alcoves set into the enclosed balustrade provide storage and show regions for plants and ornaments.
Furniture is integrated into the architecture, like a padded bench set into the back of the balustrade.
A thick, timber-clad wall separates a playroom and pastime space from the residing space. An unglazed opening at 1 finish of this room enables organic light from the windows to travel by means of to the dining area.
A extended concrete bench runs along the front of the dark wooden wall, providing a storage spot. At one finish, the neck is topped with a action of upholstered padding to create that a bench for the dining area, which functions a table covered in the very same timber as the wall.
“The furnished fixtures make the area effective, to develop a cosy but expanding place,” said Kimura.
Sliding doors enclose a toilet and moist space along one particular side of the room, while a closet area is concealed behind two doors in an adjoining wall. A small balcony is set into one corner of the living space, among the bathrooms and storage spaces.
Narrow windows are set at ceiling and floor degree to provide daylight while maintaining privacy, and a skylight brings in further light from over.
“The ceiling height is varied to produce visual growth, and a number of openings are designed so that light comes in from a variety of positions,” added the architect.
Photography is by Yoshihiro Asada.
Ground floor plan 
Very first floor strategy 
Segment one particular 
Segment two Dezeen
Render of prototype Domi-No-Driver
Ring Lights. Main picture: Hanging Hoop chair
Crescent Lights
Chapel Lights
Glass on Brass
Ground floor plan 
Very first floor strategy 
Area 
