House in Ohasu by the studio Arbol finds itself at the intersection of Singaporean and Japanese elements, the unintentional outcome of two strong cultural and architectural influences in one project. The clients strongly wanted to incorporate Singapore’s peranakan style, an architectural feature predominantly found in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore defined by colourful geometric patterns, carved wooden swing doors, majolica tiles and gilt elements.
This atypical home located in Osaka, Japan stands out – quite literally – among the Japanese-style row houses along the street: its base is lifted a few inches from the ground in by stilts, a typical architectural feature of homes that follow Singapore’s peranakan style.
From the street towards the back of the property, the home’s ceiling slopes upwards, creating interiors that gradually gain ceiling height as we progress through the home. The main door leads directly into the living, dining and kitchen areas, dressed in a minimal palette of wood and white tiles. Following the social space is a small outdoor courtyard and beyond that, a bedroom. Each space is introduced by arches of varying heights, creating an effect of overlapping layers that add depth to the whole house. A rectangular patch of patterned tiles in the hallway precede a wooden staircase that leads to a mezzanine.
While House in Ohasu follows the layout of a narrow Japanese row house, it appears bigger than it actually is with the presence of outdoor spaces, a small front garden and interior courtyard, which let natural sunlight into the home through the seasons, generating a profound sense of openness and movement.
Imbued with both Japanese and Singaporean influences, Arbol succeeds in bringing its clients a comfortable dwelling that captures the best of two cultures within its walls.
Find studio Arbol on Instagram, and revisit our past features on other Osaka dwellings.
Photography © Yasunori Shimomura for Arbol