Situated in suburban Japan, this addition to a family home designed by mA-style Architects is different from many such projects in that it doesn’t attempt to match the style of the home it extends from. Instead, the building’s exterior architecture and interior layout are both minimally, handsomely modern, intentionally contrasting the space inside a more traditional main house. The addition has an altogether lighter and airier design motif than its master home, which extends inside to the largely open space it contains. This separation is physical as well, with the addition being placed at the end of a covered outdoor walkway instead of simply on the other side of a wall.
All of this differentiation is a means to a very specific end, contrasting with the main home to make it perfectly clear that the addition is a different sort of space, meant for certain activities and a certain state of mind. The clarity and simplicity of design is meant to inspire clarity of thought, making the extension a suitable office or contemplation space. The soothing colors and clean materials of the open room aid in this, and the physical space between the extension and the home further enhances the mental state intended to be induced by a visit to the addition. It’s about more than just adding modern space to a home; the area has a purpose beyond square footage.
Minimal Extension Adds Chic Usable Space To Japanese Home
While the extension has simple lines and lighter wood and paint colors, the house it stems from is more typical and ornate in style. The addition’s exterior is an eye-pleasing combination of four white room-height walls, with a pitched wooden roof that forms a triangular window on each end to let in natural light.