150 Best Minimalist House Ideas (2014)

Architect: Hiroyuki Ito Architects

Location: Minatoku, Tokyo, Japan

Photography: Daici Ano

This house consists of two “boxes” separated by a central glazed stairwell. These two boxes contain living areas and bedrooms that alternate with courtyards and lightwells. Openings on the exterior walls are relatively small and sparse, just enough to establish connections with the surroundings, giving the house an introverted character.

The stairwell is board-formed concrete, matching the finish of the building’s exterior. The surfaces in the rooms are painted white.

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A well-lit room has light coming in from at least two directions—for example, from windows on different walls or from a skylight and a window.

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In courtyards of small or awkward dimensions, a sharp and sophisticated design can be created with marble chips and a small selection of plants.