The Higashihayashiguchi Dwelling and Shop is located in Shiga, Japan, and completed by ALTS Design Office.
The building is extremely slender and multifunctional, featuring a cafe on the ground floor, with a spot for dwelling above. It's amazing that the team managed to do this much with such a small space, and overall it still looks to be quite spacious. ALTS Design Office used a whitewashed look for the outside walls, with wooden accents found on the interior of the cafe. The spot for living on top is also quite small, but it still offers a comfortable place to stay, using an open concept to keep the area looking larger than it actually is in the end.
Photo Credits: designboom, alts-design
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Multifunctional Buildings
- There is a growing trend towards designing buildings that serve multiple functions, such as combining a cafe and a dwelling in a small space.
- Minimalist Design
- Minimalist design is becoming popular in architecture, with a focus on clean lines, open spaces, and a restrained color palette.
- Space Optimization
- Architects and designers are increasingly finding innovative ways to optimize small spaces, creating comfortable and functional environments.
Where This Applies
- Architecture
- The architecture industry has an opportunity to explore and develop designs for multifunctional buildings, incorporating elements of minimalism and space optimization.
- Interior Design
- Interior designers can leverage the minimalist aesthetic and space optimization techniques to create efficient and visually appealing living spaces in small dwellings.
- Hospitality
- Hotels and cafes can incorporate the concept of multifunctional spaces to maximize the use of limited real estate and offer unique and versatile experiences to their guests.
