arbol design builds low-cost house with a focus on quality over quantity

a minimalist house

‘house in heguri’ is a minimalist single residence in nara prefecture, japan, with a focus on quality over quantity.

the need for a new house was triggered by an increase in the size of the client’s family. arbol design sought to create a simple dwelling, where ‘the scenery and colors can continuously change depending on the people living there’. their aim was to generate a low-cost structure, avoiding extra ornaments and decoration.all images courtesy of arbol design

bringing the family together

arbol design‘s purpose was to create an intimate space that maintains privacy, at a limited cost. the architects framed the house with a wooden fence that could be closed or opened depending on the inhabitants’ needs. the layout of the fence and the building was shifted from the parallel line of the road; this way, four gardens were formed around the structure, blurring the boundaries of the inside and outside.

‘in today’s world, minimalism is being reviewed in the context of ‘information overload’ and ‘material overload’. in order to keep up with such trends, we tried to make minimalism and quality coexist. in other words, the purpose is to improve quality while limiting ‘quantity,’ said the architects. they created a small semi-open porch, in front of the entrance. ‘a space where one can do little outdoor activities, as the size of the family increases, the activities will change in various ways. it is my hope that the family will create colorful memories even in the space called the entrance porch.’

the horizontal texture of the fence continues to the ground

house in heguri by arbol design enhances the quality of life

the same concept was applied to the space called ‘closet and dry space’. as the number of family members increases, the amount of laundry inevitably increases. it is not only a closet but a space where one can dry their room, even on rainy days. these are the spaces that can enhance the quality of life.

the point of ventilation equipment is a filter that takes filtered air into the room. the studio adopted filters that remove impurities from the outside air, so that clean air circulation can be created in every corner of the house. moreover, a sprayed heat-insulating material for wooden construction was used, and the sash was also made of double glazing to improve the heat-insulating properties.

a muted palette of cool greys is combined with light timber tones

as for the landscape, they placed three olives against a simple yet impressive façade. in order to emphasize the same tree species, the surrounding area was covered by gravel in a circular shape as a connection between the inside and the outside of the wall. a chaste tree, which has a leaf color similar to that of an olive tree, was planted behind the fence to give the space continuity when opened.

the lighting plan emphasized the ease of viewing; spotted LED adds a warm atmosphere to the house. ‘it is a lighting plan that reconsiders the ‘excess of light’, seeks ‘quantity’ of brightness, and pursues the ‘quality of light’ that lives comfortably at night and affirms shadows and darkness. the ceiling’s downlight uses a ‘glareless downlight’ that gives the illusion that the lighting is on but off.’ mentioned the studio. ‘

the era of mass production and mass consumption is over. from now on, it will be an era where quality and ease of use are required while being compact and surrounded by only what one likes. while emulating the challenges of our predecessors, we hope that this will add new breath and become a model for the future of housing.’

the entrance soil and street are integrated to establish a connection with the kitchen

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finishing is achieved with plaster and solid flooring

each room connected to the living room, serves as a flow line and has a clear entrance

two children’s rooms are expected in the future

the wall extends to both ends of the site

project info:

name: house in heguri
designer: arbol design

location: heguri, nara prefecture, japan

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina petridou | designboom