# Asymmetrical Oceanside Abodes Japan's Architect Cafe Designs a Sweet Private Beachside Pad By Jordan Sowunmi | Published 2011-05-08 | World Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/architect-cafe References: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/14504/mikio-taiarchitect-cafe-house-in-akiya.html) & [architect-cafe](http://www.architect-cafe.com/) The latest creation of Mikio Tai of Tokyo’s Architect Cafe is the House in Akiya, an incredible [asymmetrical two-story private home](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-in-kyobate) that's located next to a beach in Ama-cho, Japan. Its asymmetrical exterior notwithstanding, the house looks relatively nondescript from the outside. Inside, the home reflects a deft design that harnesses and exploits the beauty of living near a [large body of water](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/big-sky-beach-house). The living space and kitchen are large, wood-paneled, open-air rooms that create a cottagelike ambiance. Large glass windows allow for a great amount of natural lighting, further enhancing the house’s organic charm. The Architect Cafe house is also equipped with an outdoor terrace that would be perfect for tanning, late-night star gazing or romantic candlelit dinners. It’s hard to look at a place this unique and skillfully crafted and not mentally move all your furniture into it. Photo Credits: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/14504/mikio-taiarchitect-cafe-house-in-akiya.html), [architect-cafe](http://www.architect-cafe.com/) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.0/10 - Popularity: 17% | Activity: 5% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [World](https://www.trendhunter.com/world) > [Regional](https://www.trendhunter.com/regional) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Asymmetrical Design:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore new ways to create asymmetrical designs in various industries, such as architecture and interior design. - **Open-air Living Spaces:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Find innovative ways to incorporate large, open-air living spaces in residential and hospitality projects. - **Natural Lighting:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop technologies and designs that maximize the use of natural lighting in homes and buildings. ### Who This Affects Most - **Architecture:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Push the boundaries of traditional architecture by incorporating asymmetrical, open-air designs in buildings and homes. - **Interior Design:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Experiment with asymmetry and open-air concepts in interior design to create unique and captivating spaces. - **Hospitality:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Redefine the concept of outdoor spaces in the hospitality industry by integrating open-air living areas and natural lighting in hotel and resort designs. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Beach-Overlooking Picturesque Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/villa-a.md) - [Temple-Inspired Idyllic Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/k-residence-1.md) - [Fish Tank-Inspired Japanese Houses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nao-iwanari.md) - [Off-Grid Oceanside Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/campos-studio.md) - [Stone-Finished Coastal Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/matopos.md) - [Accessibly Designed Coastal Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dane-taylor-design.md) - [Stepped Hillside Residences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/b2a-architects.md) - [Contemporary Timber Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-in-saidera.md) - [Minimal Japanese Home Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-in-kyobate.md)