# Urban Courtyard Residences The House in Komae Offers the Best of Both Worlds By Vasiliki Marapas | Published 2014-08-08 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-in-komae References: [dezeen](http://www.dezeen.com/2014/08/08/house-in-komae-architect-cafe-cedar-clad-volumes-courtyards-tokyo/) & [architect-cafe](http://www.architect-cafe.com/) 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](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stealth-house). The result was a broken-up plan comprised of [alternating courtyards and green spaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/arthur-residence), 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. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.4/10 - Popularity: 92% | Activity: 62% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **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. - **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. - **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. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Architecture:** There are opportunities for architects to design innovative homes that incorporate the benefits of both urban and rural living. - **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. - **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. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Tranquil Courtyard Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cupertino-courtyard-house.md) - [Concrete Boxes-Overlapping Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-in-tsurumiku.md) - [Courtyard Connection Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/studioac-2.md) - [Terraced Urban Residences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-in-minamiazabu.md) - [Blocky Courtyard Home Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-of-courtyards.md) - [Void-Cut Elevated Residences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kumagaya.md) - [Ever-Changing Japanese Houses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kumagaya-house.md) - [Tranquil Courtyard Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sanctum-house.md) - [Intersecting Block-Formed Narrow Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-in-fujidera.md)