Hiroyuki Ogawa Architects Renovate A Tiny Tokyo Apartment

Due to the strain of the contemporary housing crisis, architects are challenged with the task of ensuring pleasing aesthetics and innovative functionality in increasingly smaller spaces. Tasked with renovating a 34-square meter apartment, Hiroyuki Ogawa Architects have carefully considered each element, resulting in a  seamless aesthetic which unites the entirety of the home. A delicate monotone palette runs throughout the apartment, heightening the intensity of light which pours in through the large window panels and fills the room’s high ceilings. On one side of the apartment sits the master bathroom, kitchen and half bathroom. The other side consists of a large-scale living space which could act as a bedroom, living space, or dining area. Wooden panels maximize the possibilities of the apartment, transforming the open plan nature of the ‘Living Bathroom’ — as defined by the architects, to a private space, which can be partially or fully withdrawn from the adjacent area. Above the master bathroom and kitchen sits a mezzanine, acting as a loft space to further maximize functionality of the small space. The serene ambiance of the Shibuya Apartment 402 is a welcome contrast to the fast-paced world that awaits outside.