House Biotope Along the By-Pass by IHRMK

ByJon Dykstra Houses

This house is situated on a subdivided lot in a newly developed residential area, offering ample outdoor space.

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Studio: IHRMK
Client: Private/Tanglad Cafe
Year: 2019
Type: Private House
Location: Nissin, Aichi, Japan
Collaborators:
Structural Engineer: Yasushi Moribe / yAt
Builder: Kikuhara
Status: Completed
Photographer: Nao Takahashi
Publications: architecturephoto.net

In order to come up with the very specific design ideas, we create most designs with the assistance of state-of-the-art AI interior design software.

This is a close-up shot of the entrance area, which features a few strategically placed plants.
This is a close-up shot of the entrance area, which features a few strategically placed plants.
In the image, we see a close-up of a narrow alleyway leading to different sections of the house.
In the image, we see a close-up of a narrow alleyway leading to different sections of the house.
This is a close-up shot of the raw, unpainted wall, which is intentionally designed as a feature of the house.
This is a close-up shot of the raw, unpainted wall, which is intentionally designed as a feature of the house.
As you enter the alleyway, you will notice a centrally placed plant and a skylight overhead, which illuminates the area.
As you enter the alleyway, you will notice a centrally placed plant and a skylight overhead, which illuminates the area.
This is a close-up shot of raw concrete, which features a window offering a view of another section of the house.
This is a close-up shot of raw concrete, which features a window offering a view of another section of the house.
As you enter, you will be greeted by a wide glass wall that showcases the simplicity of the exterior design, which is characterized by raw concrete surfaces.
As you enter, you will be greeted by a wide glass wall that showcases the simplicity of the exterior design, which is characterized by raw concrete surfaces.
Here is a photo of the shared living area and kitchen section, featuring varnished wooden floors and white accents of cabinets and a center island.
Here is a photo of the shared living area and kitchen section, featuring varnished wooden floors and white accents of cabinets and a center island.
This is an interior shot of the dining area, showcasing a spacious and high-ceilinged room with a beautiful white and brown accent design.
This is an interior shot of the dining area, showcasing a spacious and high-ceilinged room with a beautiful white and brown accent design.
Here is an interior shot of the kitchen and dining area, featuring a color theme of light brown and white accents in the design.
Here is an interior shot of the kitchen and dining area, featuring a color theme of light brown and white accents in the design.
This is a close-up shot of the section going downstairs, featuring light wood material that complements the color of the floor.
This is a close-up shot of the section going downstairs, featuring light wood material that complements the color of the floor.
Here is a close-up shot of the black wall-mounted light that illuminates a small section with a small table in the corner.
Here is a close-up shot of the black wall-mounted light that illuminates a small section with a small table in the corner.
There is another space on the upper floor with a loft section and a small vertical window that floods the area with natural light.
There is another space on the upper floor with a loft section and a small vertical window that floods the area with natural light.
Here is an interior shot of a room featuring a small corner for office work and a wall-mounted split-type air conditioner.
Here is an interior shot of a room featuring a small corner for office work and a wall-mounted split-type air conditioner.

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This is a close-up shot of a section of the ceiling that contains the controls for the lighting system.
This is a close-up shot of a section of the ceiling that contains the controls for the lighting system.

Biotope

The house sits on a subdivided plot in the new residential area of the newly finished land rezoning project in front of the Komenoki station in Nisshin City, facing the busy by-pass which was widened to 30m as part of the rezoning project. The challenge was how to establish the building façade against an open environment of newly developed land.

Similar to a river biotope that is both a secure home and a place of activity for aquatic life, we did not fully open the house towards the front road, nor totally closed it. By manipulating the boundaries, we hoped to create a three-dimensional space that connects to the planar surrounding and a humanly distance that comes inro contact with the oversized, artificial place.

1.5 stories of RC and Wooden frame

The site is on a stepped ground, elevated approximately 1m from the boundary of the front road. We decided to insert an RC building mass into the stepped ground like an animal burrow. The ground floor beam establishes a waist-high wall that extends out to the terrace of the 1st floor and surrounds this entire RC mass. On top, we assembled 1.5 stories of wooden frame, giving a soft rhythm in contrast to the hardness of RC structure.

The basement of the house is a café, and above the basement on the 1st and 2nd floors are the residential area. While the entrance and floor level between the café and living space are clearly divided, through the central atrium and the building’s stacked 1.5 stories of RC and wooden frame structure, the sense of presence between different levels could be felt.

A Series of Small Spaces

In the café on the basement, we arranged an entrance and atrium like those seen in an urban hideaway at the end of a narrow alleyway, a terrace seating in the back of the atrium where comfortable wind flows through, and floor seating embedded in the ground. On the 1st floor, entrance, decking passage, study space, dining to living space and south terrace are arranged around the central atrium, respectively.

On the 2nd floor, private rooms (master bedroom and two children’s rooms) are arranged around the void above the dining space and the atrium, maintaining a moderate distance between each room. By three-dimensionally arranging small spaces around the central atrium, we challenged to create an ecosystem reminiscent to that of a river biotope.

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Jon Dykstra
Jon Dykstra

Jon practiced law before launching his online publishing career, bringing analytical rigor to everything he builds. Home Stratosphere combines that precision with a lifelong obsession with residential design — architecture, interiors, landscape, and furniture.

His current focus is AI-driven design analysis, using artificial intelligence to study patterns in color, layout, and material choice across thousands of homes. His Personality Type Home Design Guide applies personality frameworks to interior aesthetics, helping readers design spaces that reflect how they actually think and live.

His favorite piece on the site is the 25 Most Popular Designs, is a daily-updated ranking of the top designs over the last 30 days, driven entirely by visitor activity. The feedback is invaluable for understanding what resonates most with readers. LinkedIn

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