A unique residential project in Tokyo has transformed the concept of family living by creating four interconnected structures that function as a miniature village. Designed by Takeshi Hosaka Architects, the 1,477-square-foot home serves a family of three artists - a scriptwriter father, an illustrator mother, and their daughter Haru, who is exploring various talents including piano performance and regularly participates in competitions.
The innovative design addresses the challenge of providing individual creative spaces while maintaining family unity. Each family member received their own dedicated wing for artistic pursuits, complemented by a shared living room where the entire family can gather. The four independent buildings are connected through carefully planned gardens and terraces, creating numerous intimate nooks and pathways that evoke the feeling of wandering through village alleys.
Architect Takeshi Hosaka envisioned a space where one could stand in the garden and imagine the creative processes happening simultaneously - illustrations being created on one terrace, stories being written in another room, and serenades flowing from yet another space. This design philosophy allows the family to exist as both individual artists and a cohesive family unit, with members able to mix together, remain separate, visit each other's spaces, or meet serendipitously on the second-floor terrace while moving between areas.
The project's name, "Kaku-Kaku-Kanadel," cleverly plays on Japanese words that all relate to creation: "kaku" meaning "to write," another "kaku" meaning "to draw," and "kanadel" meaning "to play" music. This linguistic wordplay reflects the home's core purpose of facilitating three different forms of artistic expression under one roof. The architect poses daily questions that capture the home's essence: "Where will he write the script today? Where will she draw new illustrations? What kind of sound will Haru play?"
The architectural design expresses each family member's individuality through distinct roof shapes, with four different rooflines contributing to the overall "Little Village" aesthetic. The interconnected structures create opportunities for both privacy and spontaneous interaction, such as family members sharing snacks while talking on terraces during chance encounters. When the family gathers together, the space truly embodies the concept of a small, creative community.
This innovative approach to residential design demonstrates how architecture can support both individual creativity and family relationships. The project successfully balances the need for personal artistic space with the desire for family connection, creating a home that functions as both a collection of individual studios and a unified family residence. The thoughtful integration of gardens, terraces, and connecting pathways ensures that the compact footprint feels spacious and village-like, proving that creative living solutions can maximize both functionality and inspiration within limited urban space.
