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On the corner of a quiet city neighborhood with a symbolic “ Rikyu Plum tree” stands the N residence. The architects in charge were Kenichi Yokobori and Tomoko Komata, and they created a plan that enhanced the long stretch of land running West to East with a T-shaped, 2-floor wooden house dividing the garden into 4 parts.
Due to limited space on the North side, they have set back the boundary line and created a combined approach for the front yard and entrance. The two terraces located on the south each surround the dining room, lounge, and Japanese room. This in combination with the living room next door bring unity to the whole house inside and out. The long approach with its tall stewartia lead to the rock garden, which is planted with aloe flowers, abelia shrubs, and walls made with bricks.
As you open the entrance door, you will see a water garden with a green mosaic tile basin. Located next to the water garden is the lounge, where a red color is used to create a more mature atmosphere. The dining room set in the center of the building uses the same beige tile as the center terrace to create a continuous feel and also functions as a bright family room. In the main terrace Fraxinus griffithii was planted for impact, and Asiatic jasmine vines reach the 2nd floor, helping to shield the view from outside. By alternating the layout of the house from outdoor to indoor, you will feel close to nature even if you are inside.

The Saito residence is located on a hill with a commanding view of Mt Fuji in Yokohama, Kanagawa, and is a reinforced concrete home with 2 floors and a basement. Designed by Eiichi Sugiura, the home has 4 gardens which bring light to all areas of the home. On the first floor Sugiura placed the entrance, living & dining rooms, kitchen, bathroom and a Japanese room. The second floor is a private space with bedrooms. Miki Saito directed the interior design, where she coordinated various materials to add expression to the interior. A Japanese strawberry tree welcomes guests at the approach leading to the entrance hall and garden, which is full of natural light. Miki Toyoda, who created concepts for each garden, directed the garden design. In the central garden adjacent to the bathroom and Japanese room, a basin was placed to create a relaxing atmosphere for bath time. The main garden located along the living & dining rooms and kitchen, was designed using the same tiles that were used indoors, to create a comfortable feeling as if one is still inside. The barbecue space was created with antique bricks from Shanghai. In front of the southern fence is a basin where water drips and where maple creates charming shadows.

The Onga district of Fukuoka, a townscape with old stonewalls and fields surrounded by calm mountain scenery is where the family chose to build their home. The land was inherited from both his grandmothers, and is located in the middle of Kokura and Northern Kyushu, where they each worked. It is a location where both environment and convenience coincided. The lot is located 2 meters above the road running in front of it, and is approximately 530m2 large, 11m wide, and 40m deep. Its shape is unique because it is bent. Masao Yahagi was in charge of the architects. He thought it would not be efficient to create a large house with a large garden. Instead, he planned for a one-story wooden house, connecting multiple small gardens with rooms meandering through, and created either a living room or terrace at areas surrounded by walls. After the entrance, the bathroom, 2 children’s rooms, a Japanese room, and living & dining kitchen are lined up left to right, it’s a very unique spatial structure. Terrace decks are located at the center, between the children’s rooms and Japanese room and to the side of the living & dining kitchen. Located at the very west, a BBQ terrace with an observatory on the upper deck was designed. Fields were left untouched on the southwest side of the plot, and trees were replanted, and white gravel placed to prevent weeds. By making the best use of what was present, and adding finishing touches allowed for a garden with friendliness to be created.

Today, outdoor living space where gardens are an extension of the indoors are increasing in popularity. Here we would like to take things a step further by creating a garden where you can be touched by nature’s beauty or at a minimum bring more happiness into your life. We are proposing three gardens that all allow you to utilize all your 5 senses. First is a garden with an aroma. Smell send direct signals to the brain and bring back memories and thoughts, which the aroma of the smell of rain or gardenias can help to elicit. The second type of garden pays special attention to sound. The sounds of trees and plants swaying in the wind, soothing sounds created from water, and natural sounds and colors facilitate relaxation. Third is the edible garden, fruits and vegetables grown in the garden not only bring happiness, but can help encourage communication with neighbors when shared. As you take care of the plants and care for the dirt, the dirt quality will improve and mature after some time. When you feel happy or impressed, you will fall more in love with your garden and thus create more happiness in you home.

Catherine Memmi is known as a leader of minimal design. She is visiting Japan to open “e interiors” in Omotesando, Tokyo in June of this year. Memmi gained attention in the late 90’s, together with the global boom of Zen, for her style of minimal colors with linear design. “Simple yet contemporary and elegant are thoughts I put into my designs for 20 years and recently I have added mild to this,”she says.
The chrome and steel used in the legs for tables ART GALLERY and GLASS as well as for Sofa Collection L.A.’s legs express mildness. Until recently homogeneity was said to be important, but today, mixing styles have and evolved even further is the global trend. Creating a sense of unity with different materials and styles are needed design trends.
You can experience Memmi’s imagination at Hotel Greges, which opened in October of 2009 in Fukuoka, Munakata-shi. She was in charge of the total design of the hotel, from the rooms to the public space. It is an atmosphere where you can relax, yet feel away from the ordinary.
This year will mark twenty years since the opening of Memmi’s Paris shop. It was not an easy road, as her designs have been copied repeatedly. Her designs with their contrasting elegancy and modernism have increased Memmi’s core fan-base (of both men and women), and with her gifted design-sense, her products continue to evolve even today.

Bulthaup is a German kitchen manufacturing company that designs “kitchens as a place of living” It’s known for its beautiful design, which blends into the architecture, high craftsmanship and function. In 1949 it was established as a furniture factory, and in 1966 the company started manufacturing kitchen appliances. Since then, they have continued to research human engineering to create top quality skill and design.
Gerd Bulthaup, the son of founder Martin Bulthaup, took over the company in 1978, and to expand their company, Gerd started collaborating with Oti Aicher, one of the most famous designers at the time. Understanding the Bulthaup concept of functionality and simplicity, Aicher has set the standard for Bulthaup. In 1982 he announced “system b” a human engineering keyword for kitchens to plan a new style of kitchen method and functionality. This was followed by creating products for kitchens with living space concepts where communications will be important. Today, Bulthaup has three lines: “b1” “b2” and “b3”.“b3” was announced in 2004, and the floor plan was not the base. Instead, the kitchen was the base for the concept. Raising the reception cabinet from the floor, it gave an edge to the architectural quality as well. “b1” was announced in 2008, simplicity was the key word for functions, finish and gained popularity. “b2” was announced in 2009 and was a movable kitchen, much like a workshop where users can arrange things. In 2011 at Milan Salon, “b3” was announced in a showroom in the city. Leather-faced plates with display spaces in the bottom part of the counter made this like a piece of art. ,Mike Mire, who was in charge of the design, has showed that kitchens are a special place in homes.

The bedroom is a place where you recover and recharge your energy. Therefore, bedding material, lighting, and sound effects are important aspects of creating a good sleeping environment. In Japan, the bedroom is a place made specifically for sleep without other usage. Here, we would like to plan an ideal bedroom by combining bed linens, furniture, and lighting from all angles. When planning a bedroom, we must take our living functions into consideration, from bathrooms, to washstand space to closets. When we coordinate by layering several bed linens, the bed linen becomes the focal point of the room, and gives it an elegant mood. By using other accessories such as headboards, bed skirts and throw pillows, a room with depth and mood can be created to look much like a hotel room overseas. It is also possible to create a bedroom like a secondary living room, by adding furniture such as a personal sofa, a side table or a bench. For this, one would like to have a room at least the 16m2 large. Lighting is a very important factor in creating a room that will invite you to sleep. Some recommendations are to avoid bright lights in the ceiling, as well as avoiding halogen bulbs. Instead, using lights with warm reddish colors that bring soft light effects are preferable. Good sleep is energy for tomorrow, a bedroom that will bring valuable rest time before sleep and a pleasant feeling in the morning will bring change into one’s life.