Mini Homes of Japan
Written by Beth Flanagan
In Japan the traditional home is based on Ma, which is the balance between space and objects. The space is divided by shoji screens, which slide on tracks and can be removed to enlarge a room or allow the room to become integrated with other spaces, such as the garden. Though some believe the screen’s paper is made of rice paper, it isn’t. Shoji paper is called Washi and it’s made of fibers from the Kozo tree.
The paper is made with a specific thinness, which allows the right amount of light to shine through. If you change the fiber direction or thickness, the washi optical factors, such as reflection rate and transparency, change. The paper’s surface allows sunlight to scatter throughout a room evenly and efficiently. This remarkable and ingenious screen originated in Japan during the time of the Chinese Han dynasty and is one of the many timeless Japanese architectural elements still popular today
Architecturally speaking, Japan has come a long way over the centuries. Though they still maintain a sense of tradition inside, the homes’ exterior is a far cry from the traditional “Japanese” home.
Because Japan is about the size of California and the population exceeds 125 million people, which is three and a half times the population of California, the modern Japanese home is more compact and built with a highly efficient and functional design, making every space count.
Though the interior space is graceful, clean, and turbo-functional, the outside is modern, futuristic, and sometimes downright ugly. Some homes are built to look like square spaceships, often composed of 100% cement with very few windows, and some are built to allow the sunlight to pour in by creating an entire wall of windows. One thing is certain, regardless of the exterior, we Westerners can learn a lot from their interior space design and the freedom that comes with the less-is-more mentality.
You can gain a better understanding of modern Japanese homes by taking a stroll through the links below, which highlight 4 popular Japanese architects.
Mini house designed by Atelier Bow-Wow
Homes designed by architect Kazuhiko Kishimoto
Kazuhiko’s designs are about blending with the natural environment and are less modern looking than homes you’d see in cities like Tokyo.
Homes designed by architect Yo Yamagata
An office with living quarters built on the top tier.
A double house with a light well.
Homes designed by architect Tetsushi Tomanaga
Using the best of the given space – light, airy.
Resources and related sites:
http://inventorspot.com/articles/ten_ways_small_japan_5445
http://www.japan-architects.com/
What others have said
This simple design is a theme that I adore and would embrace no matter the population. We must begin to consider the future as our population increase beyond reasonable capacity in the western world.
I agree with recent comment and also add that the design feature of the Japanese are brilliant and provides a living space that appears more spacious and also they present as being timeless and therefore sustainable for the lifestyle variations of many people.
The Japanese style is a theme that should be recognized and adopted by many countries. The have proven that size is irrelevant when you have good design.
there are some good and bad points about Japanese design. 1 bad part is they use space for a car which is unnecessary in Japan. One other thing is that they sometimes use large spaces for the bathing area and the bathing is sometimes exposed.There is a trend to shut the outside out- it used to be the custom that other people would visit you at your home but now that is not possible with the new designs. Also all concrete and very little greenery. There are some exceptions namely the new
With Tokyo boasting some of the most outrageous real estate prices per square meter in the world I'm hardly surprised that the Japanese lead the way in small home design. While most of these tiny domiciles are not to my personal taste I have to applaud their ingenuity.
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Kishimoto's is great- sans the powerline look that wrecks the others. That's Japan- power lines at the front door. There will be a better way,