# Dexterous Discreet Dwellings The IKM House by Urban Architecture Office Makes City Homes By Kevin Young | Published 2012-04-26 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ikm-house References: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/20497/urban-architecture-office-iwm-house.html) & [u-a-o.jp](http://www.u-a-o.jp/) The IKM House by Japanese firm [Urban Architecture Office](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/urban-revivo-1) is a discreet home in a bustling city. Privacy is one factor taken into account when purchasing a house, but it's not always available when home buyers decide to move into crowded city dwellings. Located in the urbanized district of Osaka, Japan, the IKM House is a prestigious home designed to offer privacy like most suburban homes do. This home is built to offer owners both the option of a city and private lair. The front facade is a towering white fortification with porous windows that peers into the rowdy city sights. The garage door leads to a [glass partition workshop](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/octa-house), allowing full frontal view of the main street. On the first floor is the kitchen, dining room, living area and a double-level, partially enclosed roofless patio. There's a mighty [rooftop terrace](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-in-minamiazabu) with curvaceous multi-level platforms that offer varying views of neighboring buildings. Photo Credits: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/20497/urban-architecture-office-iwm-house.html), [u-a-o.jp](http://www.u-a-o.jp/) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.2/10 - Popularity: 48% | Activity: 11% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Privacy-focused City Dwellings:** The IKM House showcases the trend of discreet homes designed to offer privacy in bustling cities. - **Porous Window Designs:** The IKM House highlights the trend of using porous windows to provide views of the city without sacrificing privacy. - **Multi-level Rooftop Terraces:** The IKM House demonstrates the trend of incorporating multi-level platforms on rooftop terraces for different viewing perspectives. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Architecture:** The architectural industry can explore new designs for discreet homes that prioritize privacy in crowded urban areas. - **Construction:** The construction industry has the opportunity to develop innovative materials and techniques for building homes with porous windows. - **Real Estate:** The real estate industry can market and sell properties that feature multi-level rooftop terraces, providing unique selling points for urban living. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Compact Urban Residences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stealth-house.md) - [Raw Concrete Industrial Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-in-nishizaki.md) - [Minimal Japanese Home Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-in-kyobate.md) - [Compact Corner Residences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/modus-architect.md) - [Wooden Louvre Secluded Residences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-in-aoyama.md) - [Hidden Resort Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stealth-1.md) - [Curvaceous Privacy Wall Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kwk-promes-open-house.md) - [Compact Timber Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/akio-isshiki-architects.md) - [Japanese Coastal Houses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-house-in-onomichi.md)