Sometimes the most challenging sites turn to be the most fertile ground for outstanding projects. The K House in Nagoya, Japan, is a fine example of how this kind of circumstances become the starting point of unexpected architectural statements!

A small house is located on a steep slanting slope. A peculiar topography established the concept to solve the client’s desire to live close to nature overlooking the distant town scape. Like hanging on a cliff, this modern tiny home has only 89 sq. m. of building area cleverly positioned on a very sloped site. Its shape kind of reminds us of a star ship… Continue reading →

This spectacular building, located in the backyard of the Archi-Union Architects office in Shanghai, is meant to be a tea house. Apparently, the view out of the windows appeared too dull to the architects and designers who work here, so they decided to refresh it with their own creative project. Let’s have a look at the result! Continue reading →

Once again, Japanese architects remind us how less can be definitely more! In a drastically constrained area, Life in Spiral presents an inspired concept for domestic living spaces…

An exceptional promenade staircase turns this tiny four story building (total floor area of 109 sq. m.) into an amazing trip through all spaces of a conventional housing program! A spiraling stairway captures our interest even before we enter the house: the transparent facades deliberately expose this dynamic element to the city of Tokyo! It’s almost like an urban sculpture, don’t you think? Continue reading →

Architecture should always assume a positive and meaningful contribution in a chaotic suburban context…In Hiroshima, Japan, a special building brought some light and bliss to a similar situation! The M Clinic is an eye clinic and its function is deliberately illustrated to the outside. With a building area of 191 sq. m. distributed in three floors, this exceptional construction assumes a visual landmark for the area with a prominent exterior appearance consisting of three angular overhangs. Continue reading →

It’s always interesting for an architect to play with natural inclinations of a plot, to figure out possibilities of interesting open spaces for a house and to take benefit from its specific location. Well, this next project, in Misato, Saitama, Japan, stands out indeed in that respect, and is really revolutionary and absolutely fascinating! Continue reading →

A complex program often leads to outstanding results in architecture… In Shiga, Japan, an unusual wish gave birth to the House in Hieidaira – a small family home for three generations: grandparents, parents and children. To add even more complexity to this project, a space for work must be related to the dynamic living of this unusual house.

What were the solutions for this challenging program? A plan (with only 116 sq. m.) was developed in which 3 compact autonomous volumes – one for the client’s family, other for his parents and an atelier space – respect the sloped roofs that mark the residential surrounding area. Continue reading →

There are projects which are incredibly beautiful and masterly designed. I write about them with much delight and respect. And then there are projects which simply catch my heart and I instantly fall in love. They arouse an immediate passion in me, without any preliminary thoughts or theories.
The Ant House is one of these projects. Continue reading →

Imagine a house with perforated inner walls instead of conventional doors… In Amagi, Japan, a tiny house testifies the result of such an unusual concept! The challenge was direct and simple: a small residence for a family of three (only 82.81 sq .m. of building area) located in a plot full of fruit trees and a very special cherry tree. Nature plays a crucial role in the design of this home, creating the perfect balance between inside and outside spaces. Continue reading →

This unique, almost alien-looking house is located on a beautiful slope near the Kamei Park, in Hiroshima, Japan. The black body of this small, two-story private home (1,243 sq. ft.) looks very unusual and stimulates the imagination, mostlyl because of its bold structural system. Continue reading →

Have you seen the movie “Dogville” by Lars von Trier? Remember how the entire surroundings of the town were created – the houses were just painted as floor plans on the dark theatrical surface while various objects were placed to show the function of a room or space (for example, the fragment of the church tower hanging in the air).. Actors just pretended to knock on the door of the imaginary house.. Yet, I got the atmosphere of the town as I watched the film and I remember it well.

The House NA in Tokyo resembles this scenery concept. It is not a real house, but a transparent steel structure with small floor plates on different levels. The project area is 914 sq.ft. It looks like a building, however it has no traditional windows, no doors, no ceilings, and no walls. Continue reading →