Photo by Reinhard Hunger for The New York Times
The home’s interior spaciousness is enhanced by a well-lit visual grid that creates tremendous depth. The home’s walls consist of a series of a boxes measuring 900mm wide × 450mm high × 300mm deep that are bolted together, providing a sturdy support system in this earthquake-prone region. Between each horizontal box is a small window that provides diffuse light from the surrounding city while maintaining privacy. The exterior is clad in low-maintenance ceramic tile, which enhances its thermal performance and helps to insulate the interior from the noise of the street.
The home combines a kitchen, living room and bedroom on the main floor. A small basement, an upper floor, and a roof deck complete the floor plan. The box’s gridded interior allows for robust storage, eliminating the need for furniture. The design is a fascinating example of the micro home movement in Japan that was bred from prohibitively expensive land prices. The money saved by building on such a small lot was used to create a unique and powerful vision instead.
I love it, but there is no sign of any insulation!
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There’s no sign of insulation in any other Japanese home, either. In the sveltering summer, people work their AC to the limit, and heat their place up as best they can with some electric radiator in the freezing winter, use a lot of blankets