House Tour: Minimalist white and wood interiors for home in Osaka, Japan
By Domenica Tan -
While simplicity reigns in this minimalist home, a complex configuration of spaces ensures it’s bright and airy inside out.
Featuring straight lines, boxy forms and subtle textures, this minimalist house seems to be one of the few outstanding homes within a busy neighbourhood.
But there’s more to it than meets the eye when it comes to the dwelling’s design and construction.
Home in Neyagawa-shi, Osaka
Nestled within the dense residential enclave of Neyagawa-shi in Osaka, Japan, the house was originally the client’s childhood home.
In order for him to continue living there with his wife and two children, a revamp was called for as the existing structure was cramped and light-deprived.
Double Height Ceiling
“The homeowner has lived in this house since childhood, so when he commissioned us to design a new house here, we began by soliciting extensive input from him because he knew the characteristics of the site intimately,” says the principal from Shogo Aratani Architect and Associates.
The key spaces in this house are connected to the central living area through a double-height ceiling.
Light Wells
“We designed four light wells, which resulted in four volumes within the interior space,” Aratani explains. “For each volume, we agreed to use symbolic colours to accompany the primary neutral theme.”
The courtyard brings fresh air and soft diffused light into the interiors.
Feature stairs
A notable feature in this house is the central stairway, which weaves across the double volume space in a dynamic fashion.
Expanded metal lattice structures painted in white were used for the stairs’ handrails, as well as the balustrades that wrap around the second floor’s corridor.
This material choice offsets the box-like volumes inside this home, visually balancing the scale and proportion of the interiors.
White & Wood Design
“Simple materials were chosen to complement a neutral palette,” says the architect.
“Wood was used for the floor and the fittings as these are the areas which residents have direct contact with.”
Upstairs, the all-white space with wood surfaces is punctuated with brightly coloured walls that envelop the interior volumes – a nice touch to create focal points that aren’t too loud.
Bright Pink Wall
The bright pink wall of this room helps to break the monotony of the home’s wood-dominant surfaces.
Metal Lattice Fence
“The metal lattice also serves to let light through, which contributes to the bright, airy and lightweight atmosphere we were aiming for,” Aratani adds.
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This article was first published on Home and Decor on March 2018.