The naturally ventilated Kumagaya House has a central breezeway, soaring volumes, and secluded spaces that give its occupants room to breathe.
Kumagaya, located about 40 miles northwest of Tokyo, is known as one of Japan’s warmest cities, and in the summertime it’s not uncommon for its temperature to surpass 100 degrees. So when architect Hiroo Okubo and his firm Chop + Archi were commissioned by a young couple to design a home there, he knew that encouraging airflow would be a top priority.
The site is also situated next to train tracks, so it was important to provide privacy. And since the couple anticipated starting a family, he wanted to give them a variety of distinct spaces, despite the home’s modest square footage.
Two balconies are tucked beneath the vaulted roofline in the double-height kitchen/living room.
Masao Nishikawa
The home’s east facade is windowless because it faces a busy train line.
Masao Nishikawa
According to the architect, the couple shared many dreams for the home: “‘We may have a growing family in the future,’ ‘We would like to have a café and flea market for the community,’ and ‘We would like to blend in with the community as we live for many years in the town where we both come from,’” he says.
Okubo excels at envisioning homes for confined sites that emphasize privacy and natural light. On a narrow, triangular lot in Tokyo’s dense Setagaya ward, his firm designed a home with few exterior windows—and three voids carved into the corners that form tiny, courtyard-like outdoor spaces.
See the full story on Dwell.com: Private Nooks Unfold at Every Turn in This Origami-Inspired Japanese Home
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