Architects: APOLLO Architects & Associates
Area: 90 m²
Year: 2015
Photography: Masao Nishikawa
Lead Architect: Satoshi Kurosaki
Structure Engineers: Nomura Structure / Motoi Nomura
Facility Engineers: Naoki Matsumoto
Construction: Ido Kensetsu
City: Nagoya
Country: Japan
Nest, designed by APOLLO Architects & Associates is a compact urban residence located near Nagoya Station on a 43 m² lot. The three-story steel-frame house maximizes space through functional layouts, with a garage and bedroom on the ground floor, an open children’s room on the second floor, and a cockpit-style kitchen and dining area on the third. Skylights bring in natural light, while brown louvres offer both illumination and privacy. The design emphasizes flexibility and comfort, making the most of the small footprint to create a modern, cozy living space.
The residence’s exterior is designed to blend seamlessly into its urban environment. Covering less that 33 m² of building area, the structure features brown-colored louvres and gray spray-painted walls, resembling the form and appearance of a bird’s nest. This design choice not only enhances privacy but also gives the building a distinctive character, reflecting the thoughtful integration of function and aesthetics on a compact site.
The first floor includes a piloti-style garage for a small car, the entrance, and the main bedroom. The bedroom, designed with space-saving furniture, includes a storable bed and a headboard with indirect lighting, creating a cozy atmosphere within the tight space.
On the second floor, the children’s room is designed with an open layout extending into the stair area, adding spatial flexibility. Due to the house’s compact size, multifunctional spaces are emphasized. The third floor features a cockpit-style kitchen, where the mother and daughters can cook together. The kitchen connects to a compact dining area, and the use of lauan plywood creates a unified interior.
A skylight above the double-height living area allows natural light to flood the space. Louvres on the balcony ensure visibility from the inside while maintaining privacy from the outside. This design exemplifies an urban residence that makes the best use of a small plot, reflecting the client’s originality.
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Project Location
Address: Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
