A striking new residential project in Inagawa-cho, Kobe, Japan, showcases an innovative approach to site utilization and architectural design. Completed in 2024 by FujiwaraMuro Architects, this 116-square-meter house demonstrates how thoughtful planning and creative volume arrangement can maximize both functionality and visual impact on a compact urban site.
The architectural firm faced several specific client requirements that shaped the design process. The homeowner requested that the plan capitalize on the site's southern orientation to maximize natural light exposure. Additionally, the client specifically wanted the house to incorporate a triangular roof shape and maintain a distinctive appearance that would set it apart from neighboring structures. Perhaps most importantly, the design needed to accommodate the owner's passion for music, providing adequate space for band practice and musical gatherings with friends and family members.
To address these requirements, FujiwaraMuro Architects implemented a bold design strategy by rotating the entire building approximately 45 degrees to the south. This strategic rotation serves multiple purposes, creating a three-dimensional quality that gives the building a dynamic presence while adding visual depth to the rectangular site. The angled positioning ensures optimal solar exposure throughout the day while distinguishing the structure from the typical grid-aligned buildings in the surrounding residential area.
However, simply rotating a single building volume would have created excessive unused space on the rectangular lot, leading to inefficient site utilization. To solve this challenge, the architects developed an innovative approach by treating each room as a separate volume. This technique allowed them to adjust the layout of individual spaces to suit the site's specific constraints while optimizing each shape according to local setback regulations. The result is a design that effectively utilizes the entire available site area.
Inside the residence, the collision of different room volumes creates dynamic spatial changes that residents experience as they move through their daily routines. These intersecting volumes generate varying ceiling heights, unexpected angles, and unique transitional spaces that make the modest square footage feel more expansive and interesting. The interior spatial quality reflects the exterior's bold geometric composition while maintaining functional flow between living areas.
A practical consideration significantly influenced the final design: budget constraints made full-scale professional soundproofing installation unfeasible for the music room. To address this limitation creatively, the architects strategically surrounded the music practice space with other rooms, using the additional mass and separation to enhance natural sound isolation. This solution demonstrates how architectural planning can solve technical challenges through spatial arrangement rather than expensive specialized systems.
The project, photographed by Katsuya Taira of studioREM, represents a successful balance between client needs, site constraints, and architectural innovation. The triangular roof elements requested by the client integrate seamlessly with the overall composition, while the rotated volumes create the distinctive appearance desired. The house stands as an example of how contemporary residential architecture can address practical requirements while making a bold visual statement in established neighborhood contexts.
