In the bustling districts of Osaka, where space is at a premium, narrow properties and closely packed houses dominate the landscape. However, it is in the neighboring Shukugawa district of Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, that architectural ingenuity faces its ultimate test. With strict building coverage area (BCA) and floor-area ratio (FAR) regulations, as well as height restrictions, designing homes in this area is a daunting task. Enter Fujiwaramuro Architects, who have defied the odds and created a remarkable residence on a flagpole lot, overcoming spatial limitations and transforming challenges into opportunities for innovation.
“The phrase “tiny home” or “tiny lot” tends to bring to mind properties with narrow frontages. In the densely developed districts of Osaka, this type of long, narrow property is common, and houses are often built so close together a person can’t even fit between them,” says the architect. “By contrast, in the Shukugawa district of Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture (just west of Osaka), BCA is limited to 40 percent and FAR to 100 percent; height is also restricted. As a result, architectural design in this district is actually more difficult than it is in urban Osaka. On the other hand, we were able to locate the entire allowed floor area on the “flag” portion of the lot, which worked in our favour.”
The entrance to the residence is situated at the end of a curved approach, adorned with carefully curated plantings. Upon entering, a strategically placed window opposite the entryway extends the line of sight, creating a sense of openness and connection to the surroundings. The bedrooms, walk-in closet, and other private spaces are intelligently distributed on both sides of the front hallway. In response to the client’s preference for shared living areas, the living, dining, and kitchen spaces are located on the top two floors, employing a split-level design.
The split-level design approach was chosen to strike a balance between separation and interconnectedness. By visually dividing the space without entirely isolating individual areas, the design caters to the family’s inclination to spend more time in communal spaces. The architects paid meticulous attention to the views from each split level, harnessing the potential of the surrounding environment to enhance the living experience.
The design of the residence emphasises the incorporation of scenic vistas from various locations within the split levels. In the kitchen, strategically positioned windows frame captivating views of the surrounding landscape from both the right and left sides. The workspace situated behind the kitchen offers glimpses of neighboring trees and the residence’s own plantings. The dining area provides an inviting panorama of the nearby mountains, while the living area opens up to the expansive sky beyond the deck. The Japanese-style room offers a unique perspective, allowing residents to gaze down upon the garden from the street side, while also providing views of the staircase, deck, and exterior landscape from the opposite side.
“Split levels are a classic way of alleviating the confined feeling in a small house, yet in this case they also became an opportunity for careful and deep consideration of the views from each part of the house,” states the architect.
