House in Toyonaka is a minimalist residence located in Toyonaka, Japan, designed by Fujiwaramuro Architects. Located in a residential district in northern Osaka, this property is surrounded by closely packed houses and lacks any outstanding views. Due to the adjacent homes, maintaining privacy was of the utmost importance. The aim of the design was therefore to create a stimulating and beautiful space that nevertheless had no large windows and was closed to the outside world. The building comprises a single mass divided into three boxes, the spaces between which serve as the locations for openings that provide fresh air, sunlight, and unrestricted lines of sight. The smallness of these openings is precisely what makes the sudden glimpses of sky or streetscape that they offer so striking. The way the sunlight pours in through them is also remarkable; they serve as devices for making the residents conscious that sunlight constantly shifts over time.

Photography by Katsuya Taira