small house design lab: small house in nakanohigashi

‘small house in nakanohigashi’ by small house design lab all images courtesy small house design lab

japanese atelier small house design lab has completed a single family residence on a pie-shaped site in hiroshima. organizing the internal layout on a linear circulation, ‘small house in nakanohigashi’ utilizes subtle level differences, materiality, and colour blocking to separate the rooms while keeping a sense of continuity.

dining space and elevated nook

featuring a classic gable roof form, the design aims to give each interior room a clear direction and organization. given the small volume, the space is devoid of conventional walls but instead utilize platforms and vertical shifts to enforce a sense of separation between zones and programs. visual continuity as well as functionality is served by extending some parts in the dining area, visual continuity as well as functionality is served by extending a strip of the raised platform towards the kitchen, creating a bench along the wall.

living area

largely incorporating light-coloured materials, the space benefits from natural daylighting. transitions between rooms are emphasized in the staircase by using raw chipboard. the central program of the house – the dining / kitchen area – is kept in focus by an accent wall painted in a light shade of blue.

(left) upper level room (right) entrance

kitchen

chipboard stairs

street view

entrance

night view