Grace House / APOLLO Architects & Associates

Grace House / APOLLO Architects & Associates - Interior Photography, Living Room, SofaGrace House / APOLLO Architects & Associates - Exterior Photography, ChairGrace House / APOLLO Architects & Associates - Interior Photography, KitchenGrace House / APOLLO Architects & Associates - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Facade, BeamGrace House / APOLLO Architects & Associates - More Images+ 12

Mitaka, Japan
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  106
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2021
  • Photographs
    Photographs:Masao Nishikawa
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Galvalume
  • Architecture: Satoshi Kurosaki, APOLLO Architects & Associates
  • City: Mitaka
  • Country: Japan
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Grace House / APOLLO Architects & Associates - Exterior Photography, Facade
© Masao Nishikawa

Text description provided by the architects. This small wood-framed residence for a family of three takes advantage of the riverside views from its lot on the outskirts of Tokyo. Designed to cater to a work-from-home lifestyle, the storage, kitchen appliances, and other functional features are built into the walls to enhance unity and continuity in the long, narrow space. The result is a home where daily life coexists comfortably with work.

Grace House / APOLLO Architects & Associates - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Countertop, Sink
© Masao Nishikawa
Grace House / APOLLO Architects & Associates - Image 15 of 17
Plans
Grace House / APOLLO Architects & Associates - Interior Photography, Kitchen
© Masao Nishikawa

A key design challenge was assimilating contradictory elements such as work/leisure, interior/exterior, and private/public in order to achieve that harmonious lifestyle within a limited space. In contrast to private areas such as the master bedroom and child’s bedroom on the first floor, the second floor consists of a single open room.

Grace House / APOLLO Architects & Associates - Interior Photography
© Masao Nishikawa

The front balcony, a glassed-in intermediary space with deep eaves, plays an especially important role in transitioning between work and leisure. The furniture on the balcony has a similar aesthetic to that inside the house, which creates a sense of continuity, while the one-way glass blocks visibility from the road but lets in natural scenery, resulting in a uniquely comfortable atmosphere.

Grace House / APOLLO Architects & Associates - Interior Photography
© Masao Nishikawa
Grace House / APOLLO Architects & Associates - Image 14 of 17
Secitons
Grace House / APOLLO Architects & Associates - Exterior Photography, Chair
© Masao Nishikawa

Enclosing all functional elements within wall storage units allowed us to eliminate the visual noise of excess objects and enhance concentration on work. Meanwhile, the exposed rafters of the gable roof with indirect lighting set into them make this second-floor space both unusual and relaxing. Perhaps this design approach, which takes smallness not as a minus but as a plus in terms of coziness and comfort, will be even more sought after in the post-Covid 19 era.

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About this office
Cite: "Grace House / APOLLO Architects & Associates" 22 Jun 2021. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/963759/grace-house-apollo-architects-and-associates> ISSN 0719-8884

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