NEVER TOO SMALL: Family of 5’s Simple Home, Japan 45sqm/483sqft

Visit to get your hands on our Essential guide to your living room. Located in a small peaceful town one hour south of Kyoto, the single story House in Heguri is a simple, minimalist home for a family of 5. Designed by Yousaka Tsusumi from Arbol Design, the striking exterior features 4 towering wooden sliding doors that extend to both ends of the site, and individually open or close depending on how the family wants to use the space. When opened the doors reveal a house clad in galvanised steel with plenty of access to the outdoors, including a covered porch area at the entrance used by the family as a year-round outdoor living space. The central living and dining area are raised on a wooden platform and connect to the kitchen via a large, cleverly designed kitchen island/ dining table with different seating heights on either side. A series of internal sliding doors branch off the central living space to the home’s two bedrooms and utility zon