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430 Sq. Ft. Kamo House in Japan


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This is the Kamo House designed by a Japanese architectural studio called a.un architects.

It was designed and built for a family with three children and has a footprint of only 430 sq. ft.

When you go inside you’ll find a kitchen, living area, and bathroom on the first floor with enough floor space for the children to play. Upstairs you’ll find the open and shared bedroom space for the entire family. Please enjoy, learn more, and re-share below. Thank you!

430 Sq. Ft. Kamo House in Japan

430 Sq. Ft. Kamo House in Japan

Images © Aunarch

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Related: The Pit House: Modern Small Home in Japan

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Below you can see one of my favorite design elements of the house. It’s the Juliet balcony that you can enjoy on your way up to the second floor of the home. Pretty cool, right?

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Related: Woman’s Tiny House on Wheels with a Juliet Balcony!

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Images © Aunarch

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Alex

Alex is a contributor and editor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the always free Tiny House Newsletter. He has a passion for exploring and sharing tiny homes (from yurts and RVs to tiny cabins and cottages) and inspiring simple living stories. We invite you to send in your story and tiny home photos too so we can re-share and inspire others towards a simple life too. Thank you!
{ 17 comments… add one }
  • Deadrock
    September 16, 2015, 1:07 am

    Location, location, lo…wait, that’s the location?

    Floorplan seems to be missing spaces 6 thru 9, but nevertheless, I like that it’s a little different than the layout for most 430sf plans I’ve seen. Like the woodwork, especially in the ceiling. Great for one person, decent for 2; two adults and three children is a recipe for a murder/suicide, but that could just be me. They’re probably more used to this sort of thing in Japan. At least, what they’re saving in building costs they can spend on therapy.

    Needs some serious landscaping, but maybe that’s still on the drawing board. The landing by the balcony makes me smile.

    Seems a little dark inside. But then so am I.

    • CharlotteMo
      September 16, 2015, 9:43 am

      Forgot to take your meds?

      • Deadrock
        September 16, 2015, 11:05 am

        Better living through chemistry. 🙂

      • SteveDenver
        September 16, 2015, 11:38 am

        Bringing “snarky” back?
        Did you look at the floor plan drawing before making a snotty comment?

        • Lisa
          September 16, 2015, 12:07 pm

          not snotty, SteveDenver. More like droll. And funny. I don’t see the upper floor plan, either.

      • SteveDenver
        September 16, 2015, 12:17 pm

        “Forget to take your meds” is neither funny nor droll, but is generally a cheap swipe at someone’s mental or emotional state.

    • Madiha
      September 16, 2015, 11:31 am

      Hehe!

    • Duke
      September 16, 2015, 4:30 pm

      Agreed, 6 through 9 are missing. No snarks needed here…
      D J H

    • Angela
      September 17, 2015, 10:36 am

      I’ve read that the recommended space allowance per person living in a small house is 100 sf. So this is quite a bit under for a family of 5. Not that it can’t be done. But will be challenging! But that’s the guideline I’m looking at for our future small house plans…

      • Deadrock
        September 17, 2015, 10:40 am

        Yes, challenging is one way to put it! Unless two of the children are conjoined twins, space will certainly be at a premium. Good luck with your own future plans!

  • curt
    September 16, 2015, 10:48 am

    the more I look at this the more I like aspects of it. The photos are pre move in photos, If you look at the beams in the second floor- the space can be portioned out using sliding paper screens- into two rooms at least and you would still have a space for a desk so really three rooms. I do like the bench/platform right as you come in the door. You can leave your shoes and sit and put them on. The Juliet balcony area is really a room in itself- to sit on the bench and look out on to a possible view and read. It also brings nature into the house- not a far stretch from a traditional house using sliding panels. not sure if outside the slabs of stone or concrete I am guessing is a parking area. I do think when the family moves in they will do some planting. The might not want a traditional yard – were do you store the mower? The one thing that I am wondering about is the metal siding I am not sure if it was designed to have the waves and buckling. I also am curious about the property lines- the area above the retaining wall- could be nicely landscaped as a forest – and you could do some raised beds for veggies along the front and you would still have the side yard with the driveway for kids to run. bikes could be stored hanging on the wall behind the house. Interesting home.

  • Rich
    September 16, 2015, 5:27 pm

    A good “team effort” here in understanding this house, its spaces and functionality. It was also important to follow the links for additional information including the upper level plan. A uniquely Japanese house. The only area I don’t understand is the house-wide corridor at grade; possibly for bicycles? Culturally, the idea of permanence is rather foreign to the Japanese, so by the time the kids are teenagers they may be moving on to another place? Tx for sharing, Alex.

    • Duke
      September 16, 2015, 6:50 pm

      ” It was also important to follow the links for additional information including the upper level plan.” Absolutely Alex, although in the original posting most of the pictures were visible, including the ground floor plan. For some that left the impression that the missing upper level floor plan was an oversight. Love your postings though…

      • Deadrock
        September 17, 2015, 10:44 am

        Yes, I always follow the links for information – I’m practically OCD about researching stuff. So I did see the full floor plan, and I’m still impressed by their originality of layout. But most people don’t even seem to realize there are links, much less take the trouble to follow them. If Alex had a dime for every time someone asked “How much is this?” or “How many square feet is it?” or “Where is this located?” or “How can I get the plans for this?” I bet he’d be retiring to his own 400 sq ft mini-mansion and selling off this blog by now.

        • Duke
          September 17, 2015, 10:53 am

          Agreed.
          D J H

  • Andrea Jasso
    September 16, 2015, 11:41 pm

    Japanese design is wonderful….love the use of space and combination of beautiful finishes. I would appreciate this a little more in a different location.

  • Wendy Giardina
    September 20, 2015, 10:44 am

    Can I get the plans for this house?

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