The Stairway House his the latest from our favorite design studio Nendo. The surprising three-storey residence lies tucked along the quieter side of Shinjuku, and was built for two families: an older couple and their eight cats occupy the first floor, while the second and third belong to a younger couple with children.
Dominating the home is a massive faux stairway structure that cuts diagonally through the all the floors, keeping the households from being completely separated from each other. Enclosed in the false stairway structure are the bathrooms and the home’s actual staircase. Plants, flowers and the occasional presence of cats dot the upper steps. “The staircase and greenery gently connect the upper and lower floors, creating a space where all three generations could take comfort in each other’s subtle presence,” state the studio. With such a visually striking element, the furnishings were kept minimal and sober, in steady monochromes that allow the staircase to shine as intended. As we’ve come to expect from anything coming from Nendo, the Stairway House exudes an understated elegance that will stand the test of time.
Photography © Daici Ano and Takumi Ota