Extraordinary Japanese Micro-Home Built From A Grid Of Boxes

Architect <a href="http://tekuto2.squarespace.com/">Yasuhiro Yamashita</a>, who brought us the <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/08/04/lucky-drops-is-a-lantern-like-japanese-micro-home/">Lucky Drops</a> micro-house, displays his playful vision of small-space living in this <em>Cell Brick</em> home located in Tokyo. This fascinating Japanese <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/08/02/small-space-living-tiny-house-trend-grows-bigger/">micro home</a> is built from a series of steel boxes that are stacked like bricks and extended through the interior to provide endless shelving. The tiny lot (not much wider than the crosswalk) holds a two story home with a basement and creates a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/?attachment_id=148025">hypnotic interior</a> that is a joy in form and function. The windows set into the wall’s grid are simply spaces between the boxes.

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<a href="http://inhabitat.com/?attachment_id=148027"> boxes</a> 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 <a href="http://inhabitat.com/?attachment_id=148066">interior</a> 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.