For three sisters and their families in Japan, NKS Architects created a single house that makes the most of available space without feeling cramped. The "3 Bundled Tubes" House combines an open common area with private rooms for each family. The plan offers an interesting approach to living communally in order to consume less...
The private spaces are arranged with two vertical "tubes" on either end of the building and one "hanging room" designed to be used as a kids' room or a single adult's room.
In the common area, varying heights section off the living, dining, and kitchen spaces. Large windows at the front and back of the house flood the interior with light.
Two front entrances allow family members to enter their spaces separately. They share the front lawn and porch.
For more information about the 3 Bundled Tube House and other projects by NKS Architects, click here.
All Photos: Kouji Okamoto for NKS Architects
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Ahh...monochromatic overload. Feel...so...wooden.
Architecturally impressive, but I'd feel like I'm living in a museum of contemporary art (with no artwork...) or in the lobby of a public library.
Also, I can imagine how you have to ask guests to be dressed with the appropriate colours. And how you can't leave a jacket on a chair, or a book on a side table, or buy a new piece of furniture you fell in love with, without destroying the proportions or entire chromatic harmony of the house.
Maybe a contrasting floor would have anchored the rooms a little more. Almost like floating in a wooden bubble.
It is pure genius spatially, but yeah needs that more lived in vibe. I would hope that it only looks like that for these promo shots and looks more homey on a day-to-day basis.
I love it - tho it feels more Danish/Scandinavian than Japanese...
...and as much as I like the sitting platform between the levels, it's crying out for some brightly colored cushions, creating a built-in sofa.
I like the House in Tsuyazaki much better from their site. Love the wood floors.
It seems as if the architect finished and there is no one living there. One large painting,the chairs in different colors,even steel chairs would add something.I feel something is missing, need to pull it all together.
Apparently I'm the only one who thinks this is super-awesome.
Love most of it, but the matching wood floors take this over the top. It is the interiors version of dressing head to toe in denim.
This is another one of those "show houses" that will never actually be built in Japan (or at least not more than one). This is freaking HUGE by Japanese standards (those high ceilings and wide spaces are practically unheard of here). The main benefit is that it's not uncommon for multi-generational families to live in the same house (though it's less common all the time). This sort of thing may work for such people.
Don't get me wrong. It looks wonderful. It just isn't the sort of thing that you're going to actually see real people living in in Japan. I often wonder what the point is of such designs when they are outside of the financial and property realities of the vast majority of people.
Particlebored, you're not the only one.
I would love to live in a museum of contemporary art.
I don't know what it is, but I'm always drawn to open spaces delineated by multi-levels. I just love that concept.