Simply breathtaking… What a fine example of turning traditional techniques into modern architecture! The InBetween House works as a group of small mountain cabins situated between Japanese larch trees in a rocky region outside Tokyo. Yes… the word “between” gains a special meaning in this particular context – From nature to the building, all is arranged to work in a very delicate and integrated way. Continue reading →

One of the seven wonders that can be seen from Space is the Great Wall of China… In Osaka, Japan, there´s no construction as big and emblematic as the Great Wall, however, a residential building designed by Suga Atelier appears like a modern reinterpretation of this ancient construction. Placed beside a main road, House S assumes the role of a physical barrier against traffic noises and visual impact. Continue reading →

Some buildings are born to serve as a pure extension of its surrounding nature…In Karuizawa, Japan, an exceptional house claims all the attention for its intimate relation with the landscape. A national forest borders the property, which means it is unlikely to be hemmed in by neighbors in the near future. Before we get to the house itself, I just couldn’t help myself – I mean, just look at that hot tub terrace view – Wow! Continue reading →

Are you familiar with the old expression “the top of the world”? Maybe the following project captures a little bit of that state of mind… Standing on the top of a remarkable (and respectable sized) cliff in Chiba, Japan, Hanare is the dream home for everyone who loves wild nature at its purest. Continue reading →

In Oita, Japan, a cloud has just landed safe and sound in a small residential suburb…Its bright metal appearance reinforces this romantic idea. This two-story building glows like a cloud on a sunny day between low houses and farmlands. It’s like an angel on earth. So simple but yet so distinctive! Continue reading →

This is a call to all non-believers in minimal housing solutions… The D – Apartment in Osaka, Japan reveals how a tiny site can be occupied by a three-story building containing five apartments and even a small shop! Can you believe it? I´m talking about a construction area of 240 sq. m. magically converted into an exquisite floor design…

A rectangle with 2 x 16 meters is bended to fit in the 161 sq. m. area of the site. The volume folds around a narrow courtyard, while external staircases and balconies provide access to the several houses above. Continue reading →

Flowers and humans sharing the same ceiling… Yet something is different in this small house in Kanagawa, Japan! Instead of a conventional house with a garden, here the garden became an inner part of the house composition. It’s truly astonishing! Nature becomes so much closer to architecture almost reaching our heart and soul. Continue reading →

A weekend home = pure joy and relaxation! The entire world is green, especially when buildings become a “natural” part of the surrounding context. The site for this house in Marbella, Chile, slopes gently down to the north-east providing the most amazing views over the landscape. Attending to the particular topography, house and site are composed together as a single continuous space! Continue reading →

Like a grey cat sleeping on a concrete floor on a sunny afternoon…That’s the image that crossed my mind when I first saw the ABE house! This tiny single-family home in Tokyo, Japan (with only 43.81 sq.m. of building area) invokes an anthropomorphic form composed by three volumes of varied heights. Continue reading →

A garden for a house… Simply refreshing and unconventional architecture! Placed in Tokyo between two tall buildings, this tiny four-story house, with 66 sq.m. of building area, reveals itself to the street as a vertical garden!

Isn’t it strange that flowers vases and plants (along with the use of curtains) can really function as a facade, providing the required privacy and intimacy of a life at home? Let me introduce you to this fabulous project by Japanese architect Ryue Nishizawa… All that emerges in this anonymous front is a full-height window, which becomes the main solution to separate interior from exterior spaces. Continue reading →