Japanese studio Architect Cafe designed the 'House in Komae,' a living space comprised of four box volumes clad in red cedar.
Though the house is located in a roomy plot in a Tokyo suburb, the architects built as though they were working with a compact city site. The result was a broken-up plan comprised of alternating courtyards and green spaces, creating a design with both rural and urban elements. The architects explain, "Figuring out how to live in this city-like and countryside-like situation is the most important theme for this house, and this theme has been translated into creating a new relationship between inside and outside."
Ancillary corridors connect the four boxes, which vary in size, forming two courtyards and an eastern garden between them.
Urban Courtyard Residences
The House in Komae Offers the Best of Both Worlds
Trend Themes
1. Courtyard Living - There is an opportunity for architects to design homes that combine the intimacy of a rural courtyard with the convenience of an urban dwelling.
2. Hybrid Homes - The trend of creating homes with both urban and rural elements will continue to grow as cities become more densely populated and people seek a connection to nature.
3. Cedar Cladding - More architects may explore using cedar cladding in their designs, as it provides a natural and sustainable material that can be used in both urban and rural environments.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - There are opportunities for architects to design innovative homes that incorporate the benefits of both urban and rural living.
2. Real Estate - Real estate developers can capitalize on the desire for homes that have both urban and rural elements by creating unique properties that offer the best of both worlds.
3. Sustainable Materials - As sustainability becomes increasingly important in design, there will be opportunities for companies to provide materials, such as cedar cladding, that are both sustainable and aesthetically pleasing.