Architects: APOLLO Architects & Associates
Area: 140 m²
Year: 2009
Photography: Masao Nishikawa
Lead Architect: Satoshi Kurosaki
Structure Engineers: Masaki Structures / Kenta Masaki
Facility Engineers: Shimada Architects / Zenei Shimada
Construction: Shin Nihon Construction
City: Urayasu
Country: Japan
Flow, a duplex designed by APOLLO Architects & Associates in Urayasu, Japan, was completed in 2009 for two generations. The home combines concrete and timber in its exterior, with a louvered roof garage, creating a striking contrast. Its misaligned floors create seamless transitions between the living spaces, private terrace, and rooftop garden, allowing light and air to flow throughout. The interior features built-in storage and glass-enclosed utility areas, giving the house a modern, hotel-like atmosphere.
Designed near the sea, ‘Flow’ balances privacy and openness while meeting the owner’s request for relaxing family home with a two-car garage. The minimalist design emphasizes simplicity, with the contrasting materials enhancing the house’s visual appeal and creating a serene, light-filled living environment.
The careful balance between the main building and the garage, featuring a louvered roof, enhances the home’s presence in a newly developed residential area. The design takes full advantage of the site’s characteristics, visually expanding the interior while remaining closed to the street.
On the ground floor, private bedrooms for the family and their dog are connected by a terrace that penetrates the external wall. The first floor contains an open-plan living room, dining area, and kitchen, with storage and utilities in a glass-enclosed space. A sloping concrete overhang with a private terrace brings light into the first-floor rooms, while an external staircase leads to a rooftop garden.
The misalignment of the ground and first floors is a key feature of the layout, allowing the living spaces—lounge, kitchen, and rooftop garden—to flow smoothly. The diagonal terrace enhances the sense of space, allowing natural light in while maintaining privacy, and offering sky views. Integrated kitchen equipment and built-in storage create a seamless appearance, while the kitchen and bathroom are enclosed behind glass walls, giving the space a hotel-like feel.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
