Development of a “Space-Saving Model” for a One-Family Dwelling Case Study of Japanese Architecture with Space Limitations

Jorge Romero

doi:10.4236/jbcpr.2015.34020

Abstract

The rapid globalization of building standards and codes in regards of contemporary housing and the growth of populations during this century demands an immediate response from designers in terms of space rationalizing to fulfill the forthcoming lack of architectural habitat on earth. The differences in culture imply a difference in the way of living, and the way of living indicates a contrast in the way of designing houses. A western house does not need an extra room covered with tatami mats for relaxation as a modern Japanese home would most likely do, as a separate living-like space. Organizations, among others, like CABO (Council of American Building Officials) and, in our specific case study, BCJ (Building Center of Japan) together with BRI (Building Research Institute) try to overcome these differences to provide better housing conditions to the world through the formulation of global designing and building standards. International publications like UBC (Uniform Building Code), IBC (International Building Code), OTFDC (One and Two Family Dwelling Code) and BSLJ (Building Standard Law of Japan) have also played an important role to globalize safety and design codes to better understand global housing under normal conditions. However, space limitations and concentration of human masses in mega cities result in a crucial new consideration: the urgent need of investigating the possibilities of rationally living within less space. Minimums provided by most codes do not take into account the space issue and overpopulation of large cities. Providing with some design recommendations for one-family dwellings has been the departure point and main motivation to carry out this case study based on actual buildings with the lack of space conditioning in a country where these conditions turn into reality.

Highlights

The Space-Saving IssueDesigning space-saving homes does not necessarily mean to reduce the inner living spaces to their permissible minimums [1], but to apply several practical techniques directed to optimize and rationalize the available housing area
The final guidelines are an answer to some basic questions such as: “why regular homes underutilize space?”, “why homes do not have enough storing space?”, “why building organizations and publications do not include recommendations for space-saving architecture” and “why we do not have an international system of codes to rationalize residential space?”
The importance of this study case remains in the fact that it provides with practical considerations to rationalize space that is already scarce due to urban sprawl, but to save building costs by reducing construction area, taking into consideration both the space issue and the overpopulation problem

Summary

Introduction

Designing space-saving homes does not necessarily mean to reduce the inner living spaces to their permissible minimums [1], but to apply several practical techniques directed to optimize and rationalize the available housing area. It is the role of our architects and interior designers, challenged by the year 2015 housing demands, to develop new concepts and techniques to offer numerous non-authoritative solutions to the small-space dilemma. Ingenious space-saving techniques such as built-in architectural components, double duty fixed or mobile furnishing, cleverly concealed beds, galleried living areas, and intelligent use of mirror are just a few answers to the complex space issue Some of these techniques may imply subtle but often-critical architectural changes. Every home interior succeeds in a different way and should be analyzed for its design solutions, to prove that even the smallest home is far richer in possibilities than in limitations

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion