Japan Houzz Tour: A Multi-Functional Staircase Takes Centre Stage
This narrow home is built around creative carpentry work: a staircase that doubles as a library, a study and more
This home stands on a long and narrow plot in Osaka, Japan. Its minimalist exterior and narrow frontage – it is only 3.74 metres wide, but 16.31 metres long – offer few clues to the cosy spaces inside.
The entrance is adorned with Corten steel, a type of weathering metal that develops a rusty patina with age. The diagonal front wall adds beautiful depth to the entrance. Standing by the sliding red-cedar front door, you can see the interior and the sky beyond it through the glass.
The husband, a photographer by trade, wanted a space he could decorate with photos, picture books and other knick-knacks. However, given the narrow proportions of the site, it was important to set aside as much space for the living room as possible, while also carving out space for a staircase.
Architect Yoshio Muro had to put his ingenuity to the test to make the interior feel spacious and create interesting views in a neighbourhood where buildings practically sit on top of each other.
Muro’s solution was a “shelf staircase”. The owner tells us that at the first client meeting, Muro proposed a staircase that could also serve as shelving, a living space and the focal point of the house. The couple loved the idea and immediately agreed.
“This staircase solved every design challenge we faced, becoming a multipurpose tool that offers access [to various levels of the house] and functions as desks, shelving and a few other things all at the same time,” says Muro. The staircase stretches from the basement to the top floor and is made of pine, which has a soft and pleasant feel.
From the ground floor, the staircase leads to the basement, which holds the shoe rack and storage. As it was difficult to pack sufficient storage into a compact home, they went for a large basement. Up one set of stairs from this lower floor is an in-between storey that contains the bathroom and master bedroom.
Architect Yoshio Muro had to put his ingenuity to the test to make the interior feel spacious and create interesting views in a neighbourhood where buildings practically sit on top of each other.
Muro’s solution was a “shelf staircase”. The owner tells us that at the first client meeting, Muro proposed a staircase that could also serve as shelving, a living space and the focal point of the house. The couple loved the idea and immediately agreed.
“This staircase solved every design challenge we faced, becoming a multipurpose tool that offers access [to various levels of the house] and functions as desks, shelving and a few other things all at the same time,” says Muro. The staircase stretches from the basement to the top floor and is made of pine, which has a soft and pleasant feel.
From the ground floor, the staircase leads to the basement, which holds the shoe rack and storage. As it was difficult to pack sufficient storage into a compact home, they went for a large basement. Up one set of stairs from this lower floor is an in-between storey that contains the bathroom and master bedroom.
Up one more flight is the couple’s daughter’s room, which has no door and is subtly partitioned by the staircase itself.
The staircase also allows for a continuous line of sight between this space and the living/dining room on the upper storey, so the family can always feel one another’s presence.
The staircase also allows for a continuous line of sight between this space and the living/dining room on the upper storey, so the family can always feel one another’s presence.
Muro says that visualising the staircase was a difficult process: it was like building with blocks. “Drawings alone couldn’t give me a sufficient understanding, so I made a 1:30 scale model prior to construction and made all necessary changes while referring to the model on-site.”
The staircase, which runs from the entrance to the top floor, is like a big tree – heading up or down is like navigating a lively forest of shelves. The couple’s daughter (pictured), who turns seven this year, prefers playing on the staircase to staying in her room. It only takes a chair to turn a shelf into a desk for drawing.
The staircase, which runs from the entrance to the top floor, is like a big tree – heading up or down is like navigating a lively forest of shelves. The couple’s daughter (pictured), who turns seven this year, prefers playing on the staircase to staying in her room. It only takes a chair to turn a shelf into a desk for drawing.
The living/dining room and kitchen
The staircase is marked off by panels of glazing set in the floor, which bring in ambient light. The faint shadows cast by the sunlight filtering through gives the rooms a comfortable feel.
Several cats have joined the family since the home was completed in June 2017, so the staircase now also serves as a cat tower. It’s an irresistibly appealing place for the cats to play or hide.
Your turn
Which features of this home impress you the most? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more clever Japanese interior design? Check out our last Japan Houzz Tour: A Crisscross Design Brings a Family Together
Which features of this home impress you the most? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more clever Japanese interior design? Check out our last Japan Houzz Tour: A Crisscross Design Brings a Family Together
Who lives here: A couple with a seven-year-old daughter
Location: Osaka, Japan
Building footprint: 60.94 square meters
Internal floor space: 72.85 square meters
Design: Shintaro Fujiwara and Yoshio Muro, FujiwaraMuro Architects
Construction: R-one Corporation
This couple wanted to buy a house in the Sumiyoshi-ku neighbourhood of Osaka because they work nearby, and this is the result. A Google search for ‘narrow houses’ connected them to FujiwaraMuro Architects. The family tells us that the architects were very considerate of their limited budget and the size of the land, among other things. They were particularly impressed that the architects were able to give shape to their vague ideas about what they wanted in their home.
The exterior, with its stucco finish, is simple yet sophisticated. The husband liked the design of the Fujiwara Muro Architects office, so he asked them to give their narrow house a similar look.
Does your small site present design difficulties? Find an architect near you on Houzz for stylish, creative solutions