The “Airy House” Creates a Gorgeous Gleaming Structure for a Cafe and Residence

This gleaming silver structure in Gunma, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/photos-acros-japan-is-a-mountainous-green-roofed-pyramid-planted-with-trees/" target="_blank">Japan</a> appears as a singular space, but actually houses separate commercial and residential spaces. Designed by <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/ikimonokenchiku/mcnw" target="_blank">Ikimono Architects</a>, the structure first appears to be a highly stylized warehouse with its rectangular shape and <a href="http://inhabitat.com/cool-recyclable-waste-paper-bin-can-also-be-composted/" target="_blank">corrugated</a> walls. But upon closer inspection, the “Airy House” is home to a flowing interior highlighted by impossibly high ceilings and an indoor courtyard garden.

Meeting at a perpendicular angle, the two parts of Airy House are a private residence, and a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/runway-34-restaurant-in-zurich-a-unique-way-to-enjoy-an-in-flight-meal/" target="_blank">café</a>.

Two large garage-type doors face each other, opening to merge the outside with in. Ikimono has created an <a href="http://inhabitat.com/greenworks-green-screen-brings-a-lush-living-wall-into-any-sullen-space/" target="_blank">internal garden</a>, placing plants that intermingle from outside to in, with a large <a href="http://inhabitat.com/dreamy-panchoran-retreat-is-made-old-telephone-poles-and-bamboo-from-the-forests-of-bali/" target="_blank">palm tree</a> taking residence just beyond the large doors.

Café tables are set about the open cube, the entire feel is indistinguishable whether one is sitting inside or out.

Meeting the main café area is the bi-level second section. The ground floor houses the café’s storage, kitchen area and public bathrooms. A staircase transitions from public to private, bringing one to a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/the-smithsonians-vaulted-canopy-brings-nature-and-light-inside/" target="_blank">sky-lit </a>second floor apartment. The dwelling coincides with the open-air idea of the café unit, but attacks it in an entirely different way. The apartment is divided into the standard areas- bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.

But rather than being separated by walls, Ikimono sectioned off the areas by using various materials to differentiate from each zone. Polished <a href="http://inhabitat.com/curvaceious-wood-pavilion-at-chicagos-lincoln-park-zoo/" target="_blank">wooden planks</a> wrap around floor to walls to ceiling in the bedroom area, which then meet square grey tiling for the bathroom area.

The open plan updates the standard “railroad” apartment design, creating a unique corridor-like residence, while utilizing natural lighting to keep it <a href="http://inhabitat.com/former-golden-crust-bakery-renovated-into-a-delicious-new-living-space/" target="_blank">open and airy</a>.