Houzz Tour: Picture Windows & Private Courtyards in a Dense City
This home's clever design offers its owners a front row seat to the changing seasons – even in a built-up urban area
This house with a resort vibe and a courtyard at its heart stands in a densely packed neighbourhood of Osaka, Japan. The tall fence and parts of the building itself prevent neighbours from peeking in, but the meticulous arrangement of plants in the front path, the courtyard, and various gardens around the house ensure that nature is never far away.
The home is the work of architect Kenji Ōnishi, who was involved in the project right from when the owners bought the plot. The lot is unusual: it sits between nine buildings and is shaped like a flag, with an only two-metre wide ‘pole’ in the form of an alleyway. Even so, Ōnishi instinctively saw at first glance that it would turn out well and, in only two days, produced a rough draft that impressed the couple so much that they immediately bought the land. Having already seen some of Ōnishi’s other houses, they completely trusted him with their project.
The home is the work of architect Kenji Ōnishi, who was involved in the project right from when the owners bought the plot. The lot is unusual: it sits between nine buildings and is shaped like a flag, with an only two-metre wide ‘pole’ in the form of an alleyway. Even so, Ōnishi instinctively saw at first glance that it would turn out well and, in only two days, produced a rough draft that impressed the couple so much that they immediately bought the land. Having already seen some of Ōnishi’s other houses, they completely trusted him with their project.
The narrow path is edged with pebbles all the way to the entrance, which is marked by a glass door that opens to a small garden covered in river gravel.
The horizontal wooden board in the background of this photo is a bench that combines stylishness and utility.
The horizontal wooden board in the background of this photo is a bench that combines stylishness and utility.
An earth floor with a dark finish, achieved by mixing ink into the mortar, crosses the property from north to south. A step inserted in the middle emphasises its straight lines.
The river gravel from the small garden on the east stretches from the front approach to just under the staircase, subtly connecting the exterior and interior.
Find an architect with a vision to match yours on Houzz
The river gravel from the small garden on the east stretches from the front approach to just under the staircase, subtly connecting the exterior and interior.
Find an architect with a vision to match yours on Houzz
To the left of the entrance is a 7.4-metre tatami Japanese-style room. Viewed from here, the staircase looks like a work of art
The ceiling of the room is designed with classic Japanese refinement. Besides the typical reed screens, the architect tried to incorporate playfulness into the traditional design, and covered the suspended part of the ceiling with madder-red paper adorned with a traditional arrow feather pattern. This was a pleasant surprise for the owners.
The window was positioned to give anyone seated on the mats a picturesque view of the courtyard. The window frame conceals the retractable paper screens and mosquito net, hiding them from view when not needed.
The main bedroom offers a view of both the bamboo trees in the aforementioned gravel garden, which bask in morning sun, and the maple trees in the courtyard. When the lights are turned on at night, the atmosphere is magical.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the owners also used this space as an office.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the owners also used this space as an office.
The maple trees at the heart of the house let the owners watch the changing seasons up close. The row of trees conceals a spot for drying clothes, which connects to the bathroom.
The bathroom offers the owners a view of the sky as they soak in the bathtub. They say that they never thought they could have a bathroom with such a large window in such a densely populated location.
In fact, there are large windows everywhere on the first floor, each looking out onto the trees surrounding the house. The air flowing through the house and the cheerful natural light complete the experience of watching the seasons change from inside the home.
The couple has a three-year-old and an infant under a year old, so the entire family sleeps here for now. When the children get older, the owners plan to convert this space into two children’s bedrooms, separated by sliding doors connected to the pillars in the middle of the photo. Two small clerestory windows provide additional light from the loft.
The terrace will remain accessible from both rooms even after they are partitioned.
This window looks out onto the front path and the fence made out of fibre grating with four-centimetre square holes. An opening in the fence frames an elegant white house on the other side.
A grate also serves as the floor of the balcony, which is accessible from the kitchen on the first floor. It casts shade on the ‘bathroom garden‘ below, enriching the view from the bathroom with a pattern of light and shadow.
A grate also serves as the floor of the balcony, which is accessible from the kitchen on the first floor. It casts shade on the ‘bathroom garden‘ below, enriching the view from the bathroom with a pattern of light and shadow.
Clerestory windows and the extension of the ceiling finish out into the overhanging eaves, continuing the theme of the outside seeping in and connection between inside and out.
The false ceiling in the kitchen makes room for the air-conditioning unit and gives the room a tidy appearance.
The false ceiling in the kitchen makes room for the air-conditioning unit and gives the room a tidy appearance.
There is a line of sight from the kitchen all the way to the children’s room.
The wife requested a small alcove with tatami mats in this room, seen here on the left of the photo. The drawers underneath store the kids’ clothing.
The wife requested a small alcove with tatami mats in this room, seen here on the left of the photo. The drawers underneath store the kids’ clothing.
The alcove is a cosy place to read a book. The family’s eldest son prefers to draw and colour here.
The shelves at the back of the kitchen, the pantry beside it, and the storage at the back of the alcove are all decorated with Lauan plywood, while the counter is oak. The open storage in the front is also oak. Doors can be attached in the future to turn it into a closed storage unit.
Indirect lighting imbues the living room with warmth. The pendant lights are Louis Poulsen‘s PH5 and Enigma models, bought by the husband when he was in college. Now, after a lot of moving, it can finally be said that they are in a place they fit best.
The couple decided to build their home here before COVID-19 struck. When the house was completed, they could no longer go outside as freely, but the husband says that the home nonetheless felt as comfortable, as if the family were staying at a resort.
In future, they plan to build a separate space in the courtyard to serve as the husband’s study. Its roof will extend the terrace and connect to the kitchen and children’s room balcony. With another set of stairs, it will make the first floor accessible from both ends of the house and create freer circulation.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: Inspired By Japan, Created With Precision
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What’s your favourite feature here? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: Inspired By Japan, Created With Precision
Tell us:
What’s your favourite feature here? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
House at a Glance
Location: Takatsuki City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
Who lives here: A couple and their two children
Site area: 191 square metres
Total floor area: 146 square metres
Structure: Wooden two-storey building
Design: Kenji Ōnishi Architect
Construction: Seiyū Construction
Completion date: 2020
The neat, fenced-in alleyway offers a sightline all the way through to the garden on the east side of the house.
The lines of the corrugated Galvalume fence on the right are more pronounced than those of the fence opposite. It gently illuminates the alley with reflected sunlight while ensuring privacy.