150 Best Minimalist House Ideas (2014)

Architect: Tato Architects

Location: Kanagawa, Japan

Photography: Mitsutaka Kitamura

This is an example of how Japanese architects often deal with small spaces. The house is located at the end of a long, narrow driveway, and occupies a 15.7 x 24.2 x 26.9 foot volume split into six levels. Two stairwells topped by skylights and small wooden step-boxes connect the different levels.

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Split-levels can divide a floor with varying functions; for example, raising the floor of a living room will separate it from a dining room.

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Step boxes, often associated with Japanese aesthetics, connect spaces of different heights. They eliminate the need for constructions that would disrupt the simple geometry of a room.

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Raising a bathroom floor can help accommodate plumbing underneath, create an interesting floor level change, and even allow for a sunken bathtub.

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Consider using curtains instead of doors to hide the interior of a closet. They add texture and soften a room.