Breezes and the Beauty of Nature Fill a Serene Japanese Home
This home outside of Tokyo blends in perfectly with its natural surrounds, creating a soothing sanctuary for the family that lives within
On a site lush with greenery, about an hour’s drive southwest of central Tokyo, stands a comfortable home suffused with gentle breezes. The areas that support daily living are gathered in the centre of the home. Two walls rich in light and shadow, thanks to huge glass windows, stand under a single flat roof, while seven balconies and open deck areas enclose the perimeter. Most surprising of all is that all second floor openings are floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors. The very definition of openness, the home is filled with fresh breezes that bring in the pleasant aroma of plants from the natural surrounds.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two children, and the husband’s mother
Location: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Architect: Takashi Kurihara Architects
Built Area: 124.7 square metres over two floors
Site Area: 244.06 square metres
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two children, and the husband’s mother
Location: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Architect: Takashi Kurihara Architects
Built Area: 124.7 square metres over two floors
Site Area: 244.06 square metres
“In every spot, whether indoors or outdoors, the owner wanted a resonance between the natural environment and the building, a home where he could feel the joy of being alive,” explains Takashi Kurihara of Takashi Kurihara Architects. For instance, he says, “The design includes various places around the site that can be turned into dining spaces, depending on the weather and mood for a given day.”
Conceived as the public space within the home, the second floor has an open floor plan containing the living area, dining area, kitchen, storage cabinets, and a traditional Japanese room that also incorporates two balconies; this design creates one fluid space. The kitchen island, cabinets, dining room set, and wood-burning stove are all custom made.
Conceived as the public space within the home, the second floor has an open floor plan containing the living area, dining area, kitchen, storage cabinets, and a traditional Japanese room that also incorporates two balconies; this design creates one fluid space. The kitchen island, cabinets, dining room set, and wood-burning stove are all custom made.
“Connecting the area in front and a traditional Japanese room in the back creates a roomy layout with no dead-ends,” explains Kurihara.
Travel between the ground floor and second floor is achieved by means of an outdoor staircase located next to the living room. While this means going outside to get around the home even on rainy days, the owner says, “Every day is different, and we enjoy how the changes in wind and weather on any particular day bring us close to nature. And, since the upper and lower floors are like two detached units, everyone can solitarily go about their hobbies, but still feel they are part of a family all under the same big roof.”
Cross-section drawing 1: View from the south side
The lower and upper floors are tucked between the balconies and deck areas on either end, and connected by a shallow set of stairs.
The lower and upper floors are tucked between the balconies and deck areas on either end, and connected by a shallow set of stairs.
Cross-section drawing 2: View from the road on the east side
The open deck areas inside the building also serve as rooms for daily living.
The open deck areas inside the building also serve as rooms for daily living.
The tree planted in the inner courtyard at the bottom of the stairs is a kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa). In June and July, it faces the sky and blooms cross-shaped flowers that can be admired not only from this room, but also from the living room on the second floor. The room in the front part of the photo is a sit-on-the-floor-style bedroom, partially covered in tatami.
This bathroom won a design award in the Best of Houzz 2016 bathroom category. To make it easier to get into the bath, the tub’s base is sunk below ground level. Additionally, the outside deck area and the bathroom floor have highly water-resistant ipe wood flooring, that gives continuity to the area from the bathroom to the sunken tub, and out onto the deck.
The bathtub has a view not only of the deck but also of the inner courtyard. “We wanted an overlapping exterior and interior to ensure a wide field of view,” explains Kurihara. The door to the inner courtyard is the ground floor entrance. Of course, the door can be closed for privacy.
The design’s expansive openings provide continuity with the surrounding outdoor spaces. The glass windows have wooden sashes made of water-resistant Nootka cypress. Like the second floor, this room has walnut parquet flooring, while the walls were surfaced with putty and then painted.
On the ground floor, the two bedrooms enclose the bathroom and other wet areas, while reinforced concrete around the storage area and 75-millimetre-square steel columns in the corners of the bedrooms support the upper floor.
On the ground floor, the two bedrooms enclose the bathroom and other wet areas, while reinforced concrete around the storage area and 75-millimetre-square steel columns in the corners of the bedrooms support the upper floor.
The view of the east side from this bedroom also includes a view of the surroundings beyond the Japanese boxwood hedge.
The inner courtyard is on the left, the washroom on the right. Sandwiching the wet area are the bedroom in the front and another bedroom in the back. Entrance and wet area flooring is tataki, a hard-packed plaster that is easy to keep clean and resists water.
The route from the approach to the main entrance passes through the inner courtyard. A single-layer roof covered with Nootka cypress is like an open umbrella gently enveloping the interior below. Also finished in Nootka cypress, the exterior walls are covered in a black preservative coating that complements the green leaves of the trees.
By keeping in place the oya tuff retaining wall as well as the site’s original trees and plants from before the renovation, the exterior preserves the memory of a place that has been the family home for a long time.
Ambient lighting for the dining area and bedrooms uses bulbs with the same colour temperature, to create a warm atmosphere. Turning down all the lights gives everyone an unencumbered view for appreciating the moon and shimmering stars in the night sky.
“No matter the design requirements, I want to design buildings that retain a connection with nature,” says Kurihara. By incorporating light and shadow, wind and rain, and other elements of nature into the interior and exterior, this design succeeds beautifully at fulfilling this family’s wish for a home that coexists with nature.
TELL US
What’s your favourite feature of this simple, contemporary home inspired by nature? Tell us in the Comments below.
“No matter the design requirements, I want to design buildings that retain a connection with nature,” says Kurihara. By incorporating light and shadow, wind and rain, and other elements of nature into the interior and exterior, this design succeeds beautifully at fulfilling this family’s wish for a home that coexists with nature.
TELL US
What’s your favourite feature of this simple, contemporary home inspired by nature? Tell us in the Comments below.
What’s more, a huge opening on the second floor, angled to follow the shape of the nearly rectangular block, allows a panoramic view of the surroundings. The window facing the mountains’ east side is 15 metres wide. Not only does this provide a stunning view, it also brings in sunlight and breezes throughout the day.