Transcript of NEVER TOO SMALL: Family of 5’s Simple Home, Japan 45sqm/483sqft

This house is home to a family of 5 Dad, mum and 3 kids The concept was to create a single storey house where the family can surround themselves with the things they love. I’m Yousaka Tsusumi from Arbol Design I try to create designs that bring people closer to nature. The house is located in Heguri, Nara There are mountains, rivers and rice fields. It is a peaceful and quiet residential area. The house is 45sqm. It starts with the front entrance. The living, dining and kitchen are in the same space. From here you can access the other rooms. There are 2 bedrooms a utility zone and from the kitchen there is a terrace. From the street, you can see the towering wooden gates. There are 4 doors that can be moved individually. You can open or close them depending on how you want to spend your time. In front of the gate there is a parking space and a garden. When the wooden doors are open, it reveals a galvanised steel house. The entrance is both a porch and an outdoor living space. A roof covers this area so it can be enjoyed even when it rains or during the hot summers. There is a wooden box that doubles as a bench. Shoes can be stored inside the wooden box. From the porch there are 3 doors that immediately open up to the living, dining and kitchen. The living and dining areas are raised one step above the kitchen. The living room has a sofa, TV and some pieces the family has collected. There are long and narrow windows on the left and right of the living room. Designed to bring in extralight. We made a large dining table not only have meals on but can be used as a kitchen prep surface. On the dining side it is set at seating height on the kitchen side you can use the table while standing This area was designed to accomodate the family’s favourite chairs. On the kitchen side there is storage under the dining table. There is space for a microwave, rice cooker, oven toaster, plates and other kitchen items. The kitchen is made from stainless steel. The cabinets are made from Mortex, the same material as the dining table. The kitchen has a gas stove and a fish grill. There are closed storage to hide unsightly items. At the end of the kitchen there is a door that opens up to a terrace. It allows for easy access to take the washing in when it rains. The main bedroom is where the entire family sleeps together. When it is bed-time, the futons are laid out. In the morning the futons are folded and the room can be used for other purposes The other bedroom is currently an office. In the future, it will be the children’s room with a bunk bed. This room also has a built-in closet. The utility zone starts with a wash basin and toilet. Further in, there is a washing machine, closet and an area to dry clothes. The wash basin area is tiled. There is storage behind the mirror. The toilet is tankless. And there’s storage above. The bathroom is what you typically find in Japanese homes. The laundry area has access to natural light and air circulation. So it’s a great spot for hanging laundry. When the clothes are dry they can be stored directly in the storage area below. Living in today’s society we are often overflowing with “things” There is an emphasis on making more room to store them. We need to reconsider the things we own go back to just the basics and live more minimally. Say hello to our new Never Too Small Essential Guide to Your Living Room an easy to follow guide to design and improve your current small living space This guide contains all you need to transform your small living room into a space you will love to spend time in. And the best part you don't have to spend a fortune to make your space look amazing. The never too small essential guide to Designing Your Living Room is the first in our Essential Guide series Download your guide and start creating your very own Never Too Small inspired living room today Thanks for watching. If you're an architect or designer with a project we could feature, please share it with us at nevertoosmall.com/submissions