FORM / Kouichi Kimura Architects builds compact lakeside home in Shiga
A 70 sqm minimalist residence in Shiga, Japan, designed by FORM / Kouichi Kimura Architects for a single occupant.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- A 70-square-meter minimalist residence designed in Shiga, Japan by FORM / Kouichi Kimura Architects.
- Features a two-story main building and a single-story annex connected by a glazed passageway.
- Utilizes framed views, level shifts, and natural light to shape a spacious interior atmosphere.
FORM / Kouichi Kimura Architects has unveiled a compact residential project situated on a hillside overlooking a lake in Shiga, Japan. Tailored specifically for a single resident, the design moves away from simply shrinking the footprint, instead using the individual as the baseline to pare the composition down to essential spaces while inviting views, natural light, breeze, and sound to define the interior environment.
Spanning approximately 70 square meters, the house comprises a two-story main volume paired with a single-story annex linked together by a glazed corridor. The physical gap between these two structures establishes an uninterrupted sightline from the street, through the home, and out toward the lake, acting as an intermediate buffer connecting the interior to the surrounding landscape.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Inside the main building, the ground floor accommodates the kitchen and dining areas, while the upper level houses the living room and bedroom. Both stories feature open layouts linked vertically by a double-height volume, utilizing subtle variations in floor and ceiling heights to delineate distinct functional zones without erecting solid partitions.
Designing for a single occupant through the separation of volumes and strategic gaps is a signature architectural approach that overcomes the constraints of compact footprints. By integrating environmental elements like shifting shadows and landscape views, architects can dramatically expand the psychological depth of a small home beyond its physical dimensions—a prominent characteristic of contemporary Japanese residential design.
The upper living area is acoustically optimized for listening to music, benefiting from the double-height ceiling that allows sound to resonate naturally. High-side windows introduce daylight that casts moving shadows across walls and floors throughout the day. Meanwhile, the annex accommodates the washroom and shower facilities, completely separating wet zones from the primary living quarters.
Source: designboom
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