Designed by Nori Architects for a young family with children, this residential project introduces a new prototype of urban housing on a limited budget. Located on a narrow plot in Toyota City, Japan, almost stuck between two neighboring buildings, the resulting structure seeks openness and privacy. To fulfill the owners’ desires, the Tokyo-based architecture firm formed a steel mesh screen that serves as a second skin for the main façade and creates a protected terrace between them.

all images by Jumpei Suzuki

For ‘Minimum House in Toyota’, the design team sought to achieve transparency without compromising privacy. 

The interior reveals itself in three alternating levels, thus giving the impression of expanding the space. The ground level accommodates the kitchen and dining area, and some auxiliary spaces. The next floor is loosely connected with a level difference of 2m. Climbing up the staircase, the inhabitants encounter the living room and a restroom, while the top-level consists of the sleeping areas. The main bedroom sees a veranda, which is formed on the vertical axis of the terrace void and is surrounded by the mesh as well.

Based on a restricted budget, the aim of the project was to bring little splashes of green and blue sky inside, realizing a delightful house full of life. A wide opening pierces the southeast side of the building, creating a visual connection to the unoccupied landscape. The long side on the north is covered by an opaque wall — creating a little path to the entrance — to ‘give a sense of distance to the city.’ However, filtered natural light floods the interior spaces.

In order to guarantee comfort and energy saving throughout the year, a well-thought-out outer skin and equipment were required. The material palette is pared back to metal, glass, and timber as the protagonist, combined with low-priced equipment. The result sees a warm, welcoming environment letting the wooden skeleton, foundation, piping, and wiring exposed. The entire structure follows a simple layout, that can be repaired or modified by the inhabitants themselves easily. All in all, ‘Minimum House in Toyota’ suggests a low budget and low footprint urban dwelling that fulfills the requirements of a young family in Japan. 

the bedroom sees a veranda surrounded by the mesh outer facade

name: Minimum House in Toyota

design team: Norihisa Kawashima, Takuro Kunitomo

collaborator: Seiji Okawa (Structure Engineer), Yuki Tsutsumi (Textile Designer), Kozo Takase (Equipment Advisor), CHIPS LLC. (Lighting Advisor)

location: Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture

site area: 138.00 sqm building area: 50.45 sqm total floor area: 88.30 sqm construction: TOKORO photography: Jumpei Suzuki

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