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House D
House D
Setagaya City, Japan
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Other Projects by AMANE ARCHITECTS
House D
Setagaya City, Japan
Firm
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2010
SIZE
1000 sqft - 3000 sqft
BUDGET
$100K - 500K
― Time Lodged in a Small House ―
Nestled in a residential neighbourhood in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward stands a small, two-family home, with each unit spanning just 44 square metres. This house came about through a process of 'demolition and co-construction' after two brothers in their sixties reached significant milestones in their lives. While the ageing single-family home was being rebuilt, the younger brother and his wife provided the land and the older brother returned. Now that their children had grown up and left home, both couples shared a desire for a simpler lifestyle, which led the brothers to live together under one roof for the first time in decades. This remarkable cohabitation marked the beginning of the house's story.
The buildable volume was severely limited. The design process began with the question: 'How small can we go while still living richly?' By thoroughly re-examining daily life and retaining only the truly essential, they created a compact yet expansive space. The design made use of the flagpole-shaped plot and the 4-metre elevation difference from the front road to achieve both privacy and openness. The younger brother's household on the ground floor has a large, low-level opening that faces the south-facing passage garden. This single-room space blocks outside views while allowing light and a breeze to enter. Storage walls and carefully controlled ceiling heights create a sense of spaciousness that extends beyond the actual floor area.
The second floor houses the older brother's household. The split-level living room, which is approximately 35 m² in size, is bathed in morning sunlight and features a bay window that dramatically frames the sky, creating an iconic space. The elevation difference — 28 steps from the entrance, 14 outdoor steps and three steps to the living room — was something the brother actually found 'interesting' and enjoyed. This home, the polar opposite of a barrier-free design, reflected an attitude of embracing life's joys.
To make the most of the limited space, the height and placement of the windows were meticulously designed. The proportions were refined through careful consideration of sightlines and light intake to make the small house appear larger. The result is a surprising richness that goes beyond its 44 m² footprint. This ingenuity enables the home to comfortably accommodate over ten guests without feeling cramped.
Now, both brothers have passed away. Yet this house continues to quietly mark the time they lived here. Seventeen years after its completion, the designer's office now occupies the second floor. The emotions associated with this small home have matured over time, turning the architecture itself into a vessel for memory. The materials used combine aluminium panels with solid wood to achieve durability and warmth. The interior, plastered with volcanic ash, quietly demonstrates the power of natural materials, retaining no unpleasant odours even after many years.
There is a single-flower vase in the entrance, a small passageway garden and a living room where cats bask in the sun. This house contains layer upon layer of the brothers' lives and the time that followed. It shows that it is possible to live richly, even in a small space. This house quietly reminds us that a home is not defined by its size, but by the relationships within it and the time spent nurturing them.
Nestled in a residential neighbourhood in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward stands a small, two-family home, with each unit spanning just 44 square metres. This house came about through a process of 'demolition and co-construction' after two brothers in their sixties reached significant milestones in their lives. While the ageing single-family home was being rebuilt, the younger brother and his wife provided the land and the older brother returned. Now that their children had grown up and left home, both couples shared a desire for a simpler lifestyle, which led the brothers to live together under one roof for the first time in decades. This remarkable cohabitation marked the beginning of the house's story.
The buildable volume was severely limited. The design process began with the question: 'How small can we go while still living richly?' By thoroughly re-examining daily life and retaining only the truly essential, they created a compact yet expansive space. The design made use of the flagpole-shaped plot and the 4-metre elevation difference from the front road to achieve both privacy and openness. The younger brother's household on the ground floor has a large, low-level opening that faces the south-facing passage garden. This single-room space blocks outside views while allowing light and a breeze to enter. Storage walls and carefully controlled ceiling heights create a sense of spaciousness that extends beyond the actual floor area.
The second floor houses the older brother's household. The split-level living room, which is approximately 35 m² in size, is bathed in morning sunlight and features a bay window that dramatically frames the sky, creating an iconic space. The elevation difference — 28 steps from the entrance, 14 outdoor steps and three steps to the living room — was something the brother actually found 'interesting' and enjoyed. This home, the polar opposite of a barrier-free design, reflected an attitude of embracing life's joys.
To make the most of the limited space, the height and placement of the windows were meticulously designed. The proportions were refined through careful consideration of sightlines and light intake to make the small house appear larger. The result is a surprising richness that goes beyond its 44 m² footprint. This ingenuity enables the home to comfortably accommodate over ten guests without feeling cramped.
Now, both brothers have passed away. Yet this house continues to quietly mark the time they lived here. Seventeen years after its completion, the designer's office now occupies the second floor. The emotions associated with this small home have matured over time, turning the architecture itself into a vessel for memory. The materials used combine aluminium panels with solid wood to achieve durability and warmth. The interior, plastered with volcanic ash, quietly demonstrates the power of natural materials, retaining no unpleasant odours even after many years.
There is a single-flower vase in the entrance, a small passageway garden and a living room where cats bask in the sun. This house contains layer upon layer of the brothers' lives and the time that followed. It shows that it is possible to live richly, even in a small space. This house quietly reminds us that a home is not defined by its size, but by the relationships within it and the time spent nurturing them.
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