Tokyo Architect’s 7 Level Compact Home, 59sqm/635sqft

Key lifestyle & design takeaways (with routines/steps)

• Live/work in one compact Tokyo home

  • The owner designed the house to function as his office (1st floor) and home for himself and his wife throughout the house.
  • The floor plan supports awareness and conversation, so the couple can notice each other’s activities from multiple spots.

• Use stacked, offset platforms to create variety in a small footprint

  • The building is created by stacking 7 platforms, each offset to form different spatial zones.
  • Large windows are used throughout to maximize natural light.

• Prioritize storage for a book-and-clutter lifestyle

  • Storage is built in to accommodate a large collection of books and personal items, including:
    • Behind the office: a walk-in-closet-like storage area (4.5 m wide, 1.6 m deep).
    • Full-wall bookshelf: roughly 6 meters vertically, separating work books (1st floor) from manga/novels (2nd floor and above).
    • Kitchen staircase as “furniture”: designed to act as a seat and pantry.
    • Shoe storage at the entrance: created with a raised entry floor plus doors.

• Make “light” feel intentional through sightlines and materials

  • To avoid cramped feeling in a small home, the owner emphasizes:
    • Clear line of sight throughout the space
    • Zoning via different levels and perching spots
  • The home uses mostly concrete, paired with light-enhancing elements like windows and thin countertop surfaces.

• Create comfort through flexible seating and multifunctional spaces

  • Office bench: a floor beam becomes seating for clients when cushions are added.
  • Living bed solution: the owner designed and built a custom bed; on off-days, it converts into a sofa where his wife reads books.

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Travel / local context & location highlights

• The house sits in a relatively ordinary residential area in Tokyo, but is noted for:
  • Proximity to the station
  • Being near a large park
  • Placement by a railroad crossing
  • Still maintaining a quiet residential setting

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Health / wellness routines

• No explicit health or wellness routine is described in the subtitles beyond general comfort choices (e.g., light-filled workspaces and relaxing reading areas).

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Space-by-space highlights (what’s where)

• Overall layout

  • Footprint: 31 sqm
  • Total floor area: 59 sqm
  • Form: a rectangular concrete box with large walls and large windows

• 1st floor (office + entry + kitchen access)

  • Includes entrance, storage, and kitchen access
  • Daily office work is surrounded by books and plants
  • Concrete wall holes are left exposed as hooks (for hats/plants)
  • Entry features a step-down genkan with a Komatsu stone
  • Office seating uses the floor beam as a bench (with cushions for clients)

• Kitchen (between 1st and 2nd floors)

  • Positioned in the middle for easy access from both office and living areas
  • Length: about 3.3 m (large for the overall scale)
  • Feels light via:
    • Open storage on top
    • Thin steel sheet countertop
    • A small kitchen window to prevent back-of-house darkness
    • Stainless steel splash back
  • The nearby staircase doubles as seat + pantry

• 2nd floor (living/dining + bedroom area)

  • The largest space, with an approximately 5 m ceiling height
  • Comfort comes from zoning created by lines of sight and levels
  • Bedroom faces west, receives lots of sun; plants are placed there
  • The bed headboard uses the extended bookshelf, which also includes storage

• Toilet/bathroom zone

  • Accessed via a steel staircase from the living room
  • Amenities are consolidated along one wall to keep things tidy
  • Uses a compact dryer
  • Shower room uses glass for natural light; curtain for privacy
  • A steel bar acts as handrail and a spot to hang laundry

• Rooftop

  • A ladder leads from above the bedroom to an open rooftop
  • Summer highlight: fireworks can be seen from the rooftop

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Notable design feature (entry door)

• A large iron sliding front door
  • 1.8 m high, 2.5 m wide
  • Intended to be hard to recognize from outside as a door
  • When fully opened (up to 2.5 m), it extends out toward the street

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Notable locations, products, or “who said it”

• Locations

  • Tokyo residential neighborhood near station, large park, and a railroad crossing

• Materials/products mentioned

  • Komatsu stone (entry/genkan step)
  • IKEA towel rack used as part of a reading/project display stand
  • Compact dryer (small bathroom)
  • Stainless steel sheet backsplash; thin steel sheet countertop
  • Glass + curtain shower privacy system

• Speaker

  • The architect/owner who designed the home and lives there with his wife