Okuwada Architects has completed an innovative two-story wooden residence in Osaka that maximizes openness despite being built on an extremely narrow 45.2-square-meter site. The House in Abeno, located adjacent to a bustling shopping arcade in Osaka, demonstrates how thoughtful design can create a sense of spaciousness even within severe spatial constraints.
The most striking feature of the residence is its facade, which consists of a grid of full-height aluminum-framed windows that create visual connections with the surrounding urban environment. Given the site's width of only 2.73 meters, the architects deliberately avoided enclosing the home with solid walls that would have made the interior feel cramped and claustrophobic. Instead, they prioritized large glazed openings that capture fragments of neighboring houses, the street across the road, and the vibrant arcade beyond.
The second-floor living room showcases a dramatic wall of glass that fully opens the home to the sounds and atmosphere of the neighborhood, including the calls of local greengrocers and the background music from the shopping arcade. This design approach allows residents to feel deeply connected to the daily rhythms of their community while maintaining privacy and comfort within their own space.
The project draws inspiration from Osaka's rich tradition of community-run shopping arcades, which are collectively maintained and cleaned by local residents. Positioned strategically beside one such arcade, the House in Abeno enables its owners to actively participate in this collaborative neighborhood upkeep. Two terraces on the upper floors create direct connections to the arcade roof, allowing residents to step outside their home and assist with maintenance activities.
Lead architect Ken Okuwada explained his vision for the project, stating, "I hope that this house will transcend boundaries and connect architecturally with the arcade and neighboring residences, becoming a presence that embraces the city." He envisions that if similar houses were constructed throughout the area, the arcade roof could eventually evolve into a continuous pedestrian aerial road that extends the city's social fabric above ground level.
The design philosophy extends to the building's entrance, where the first-floor approach is paved with the same asphalt material used on the adjacent road. This intentional design choice creates a welcoming threshold that suggests the home belongs as much to its urban surroundings as it does to its private inhabitants, blurring the traditional boundaries between public and private space.
From a structural engineering perspective, the building achieves its remarkable openness through two strategically placed load-bearing walls positioned along the 45-degree corners of the irregular site. This innovative structural system distributes forces diagonally in both directions, effectively eliminating the need for bracing across the glazed southern facade. Additionally, a slanted wall on the third floor, formed by following the diagonal road line, acts as crucial structural support while maintaining comfortable ceiling heights throughout the interior spaces.
The House in Abeno represents a successful example of how contemporary architecture can respond to urban density challenges while fostering community connections. Through its grid of operable windows, thoughtful structural design, and integration with existing neighborhood infrastructure, the residence demonstrates that even the most constrained urban sites can accommodate innovative and socially conscious design solutions.
