NRM architects office: house in sakai

‘house in sakai’ by NRM architects office, osaka, japan all images courtesy of NRM architects officeimage © eiji tomita

osaka-based practice NRM architects office have recently completed ‘house in sakai’, a residence for a family and an elderly parent in osaka, japan. set back from the street, a solid facade of striated black metal panels borders an expansive forecourt. a square of pavement is removed from the driveway to form a plot for trees and shrubs, partially concealing the entrance from view. an entry walk parallels the concrete retaining walls which outline the site’s extents, generating a compressed and introverted experience. a singular rectilinear

dormer window peers above the rectangular elevation providing outward views towards the rooftops from the internal stairway.

at ground level, a combined kitchen, dining and living area directly access an open-air courtyard. once outside, inhabitants may re-enter the interior through the grand common space or through an additional side door which leads to a bathroom and corridor. accessed from the living room, the main stairs are placed within the double-storey volume which overlooks the street and neighboring dwellings.

front elevation images © eiji tomita

(left) corridor to japanese-style room (right) japanese-style room images © eiji tomita

japanese-style room image © eiji tomita

(left) corridor (right) living room images © eiji tomita

(left) stairs (right) central courtyard images © eiji tomita

view of the living + dining area from the kitchen image © eiji tomita

(left) dining + kitchen opens to the courtyard (right) courtyard images © eiji tomita

(left) at night (right) entry walk images © eiji tomita

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level 1

project info:

architects: shunichiro ninomiya + tomoko morodome / NRM-architects office location: osaka, japan principal use: personal house structure: wood structure, 2 stories site area: 325.46sqm  building area : 122.15sqm total floor area: 173.91sqm project completion: 2011 photograph: eiji tomita