Tokyo Houzz Tour: Curved Corners Craft a Unique Home
These homeowners requested curved ceilings and short walls that let every room be bathed in soft ambient light
The owners, a couple in their thirties who work in design-related professions, chose this Tokyo, Japan, apartment for its size and convenient layout. They had been looking for an about 50-square-metre space, and liked that this apartment was divided into several functional rooms, rather than one big space that would not be optimally utilised.
The apartment is situated in a building that dates back to 1969. The owners bought it primarily for its bones, and planned to renovate the rest. Their main concern in terms of design was longevity: they wanted to build a house that would continue to serve them well ten years into the future, rather than following short-lived trends. Having liked the tranquil, shadowy atmosphere of aoydesign‘s previous projects, they hired the team to work on their interior. They had two main requests: to create fluidity between public and private spaces, and to put in rounded corners throughout the home for a smooth shadow gradient. The result was a cleverly divided space that is illuminated throughout by a soft ambient light.
The apartment is situated in a building that dates back to 1969. The owners bought it primarily for its bones, and planned to renovate the rest. Their main concern in terms of design was longevity: they wanted to build a house that would continue to serve them well ten years into the future, rather than following short-lived trends. Having liked the tranquil, shadowy atmosphere of aoydesign‘s previous projects, they hired the team to work on their interior. They had two main requests: to create fluidity between public and private spaces, and to put in rounded corners throughout the home for a smooth shadow gradient. The result was a cleverly divided space that is illuminated throughout by a soft ambient light.
What originally were two bedrooms are now being used as a bedroom and a study. The workspace is the first thing you see upon entering, followed by the bathroom and then the open-plan kitchen, living room and dining room. The bedroom can be accessed from the living room.
The study has a work desk and bookshelves. Everything is neatly organised, just how the owners like it.
The study has a work desk and bookshelves. Everything is neatly organised, just how the owners like it.
The couple requested that the room be illuminated with soft, indirect light. For this reason, Sliding Shoji screens have been installed about 15 centimetres away from the two double doors to the balcony. Their translucent paper diffuses the light, making it softer.
These screens can be slid to the centre to reveal the balcony. The double doors are the only source of natural light in the apartment. They face south and therefore catch a lot of light.
Two cosy armchairs by Danish designer Kai Kristiansen sit nearby, alongside an AJ Floor lamp, designed by Arne Jacobsen for Louis Poulsen.
Two cosy armchairs by Danish designer Kai Kristiansen sit nearby, alongside an AJ Floor lamp, designed by Arne Jacobsen for Louis Poulsen.
On the left is a compact kitchen that consists of a bench with a sink and a stove, designed by Ekrea, and a matching island. Both feature a straight-grain Tamo ash wood finish.
The owners were especially keen to ensure that there would be sufficient storage in the home, and even drew detailed sketches with the exact dimensions of the drawers they would need based on what they were planning to store in each spot.
The owners were especially keen to ensure that there would be sufficient storage in the home, and even drew detailed sketches with the exact dimensions of the drawers they would need based on what they were planning to store in each spot.
The dining table is a Super Elliptical table from Fritz Hansen.
This Caravaggio pendant light is the work of yet another Danish designer, Cecilie Manz.
The frame of the Shoji screen has a darker grey colour, giving it a vibe that’s not too modern but not too traditional either.
The frame of the Shoji screen has a darker grey colour, giving it a vibe that’s not too modern but not too traditional either.
The oak floor is laid in a smart chevron pattern with a grain that resembles arrow feathers. It gives the room a more modern look than a regular herringbone floor might have done. The couple likes succulents and plants with grey leaves, so new ones are constantly being added.
A corner of the bedroom is visible in this photo. The walls separating the kitchen from the workspace and the bedroom from the hall are all about 1.8 metres tall. Keeping these walls lower than the ceiling highlights its curved shape, while also allowing the outside light to reach the study and the entryway.
The white walls give the bathroom a feeling of cleanliness. The toilet is in the back. The bathroom features a ‘unit bath’, a Japanese bathroom module made of a single continuous material. The vanity is by Sanwa Company.
The bedroom is just behind the wall on the left in the picture. Like most of the walls in the house it is also lower than the ceiling, so even the bathroom feels spacious and light.
The bedroom is just behind the wall on the left in the picture. Like most of the walls in the house it is also lower than the ceiling, so even the bathroom feels spacious and light.
In the evenings the apartment is filled with a soft, comforting light that seeps into every room thanks to the short walls. The atmosphere is surreal: the couple say it’s as though they were in one of American artist James Turrell‘s masterpieces.
The rounded corners hide the beams and create a smooth connection between the walls and the ceiling. The curve of the ceiling was based on the shape of the couple’s Super Elliptical dining table.
The bathroom entryway has rounded corners, as do all of the alcoves. They have sharper curves than the ceiling.
The walls are coated with light-grey plaster by Jolypate. Its slightly rough, uneven surface prevents the edges and corners from looking too sharp, and diffuses the light as well. The elasticity of the plaster allows it to be applied to plywood affixed over the first layer of plaster, to create a delicate curve. As an added bonus, it is crack-resistant.
The built-in TV stand, which has been placed in the living-room alcove, has storage cabinets underneath. The owners store some of their clothing here, among other things.
The owners say that the air of tranquility and the neat look of their new home have not changed a bit since the renovation was completed. From the furniture, to the plants and household necessities, everything here has been carefully chosen and neatly arranged to suit the couple’s wishes and lifestyle.
The curved corners create the sensation that one is wrapped in the space. The aoydesign architects say that when they returned to the apartment for a photoshoot, they still managed to be surprised by the illumination. Despite the fact that only one of the walls has natural lighting – and contrary to the designers’ own expectations – the shading of the home still changes dramatically throughout the day.
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
The curved corners create the sensation that one is wrapped in the space. The aoydesign architects say that when they returned to the apartment for a photoshoot, they still managed to be surprised by the illumination. Despite the fact that only one of the walls has natural lighting – and contrary to the designers’ own expectations – the shading of the home still changes dramatically throughout the day.
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A married couple in their thirties
Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Size: 53 square metres
Structure: Reinforced concrete
Renovation completed: 2015
Architectural design: Shigeo Aoyama and Yukiko Sumitani, aoydesign