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SAI Studio have completed a home for a young family in Yao, Japan, on a narrow 5.6m x 23.7 plot in a quiet and residential area of Osaka. The clients requested a space where they could feel ‘green’, with the architects interpreting this as simple acts of being with nature; taking a nap under a tree, planting a flower, or standing in a breeze.

“A home that feels green is not a home where you can see the green from anywhere, but a home where the residents actively use the external space and grow together with the green,” says SAI Studio.

In order to create a sense of indoor-outdoor living with limited space, the architects split the house into a north and south building with a full-height courtyard in between, enclosed by glass. Placing a roof over the courtyard meant it could still be utilized as a room in any weather, though natural light and a small indented gravel pit containing a tree give the illusion of being outside. SAI refer to the courtyard as a ‘dry garden’, multi-functional space for the resident family.

Large openings and tall windows also help in bringing natural light and ventilation through the long and narrow interior. Geared for daily use, the courtyard is placed strategically between the living and dining rooms, making it the centre of the home. The house is built upwards over two floors to further maximize space, with bedrooms on the upper floor.

“This plan hopes that even in a limited area, the dry garden will allow the residents to spend a variety of time and create a space where each scene can be spun up in a dense and diverse manner,” said the architects.

The minimalist home sticks to a material palette of pale timber, rendered concrete, and corrugated metal, encompassing a Zen feel. Curved facades enhance connotations of a sanctuary, with the residents enveloped within.

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