This project involves the design of three rental detached houses on a 300-square-meter site in the suburbs of Tokyo. The landowner aims to generate rental income in the short term while maintaining the flexibility to subdivide and transfer ownership of the land and buildings to third parties in the future.
Based on market analysis conducted by a real estate management company, the target demographic was identified as family households. Consequently, each unit was planned with a simple and functional layout consisting of four bedrooms and a living-dining-kitchen area (4LDK), with a total floor area of approximately 80 square meters.
The site has a narrow, north-south orientation and is accessible from the east. It was divided into three equal plots running east-west, each allocated to one house. Parking spaces were placed along the eastern road frontage, while the buildings were positioned to stretch the full length of the site from north to south, allowing for the largest possible private gardens on the western side. The adjacent road is commonly used as a shortcut and experiences frequent bicycle and pedestrian traffic. By placing the buildings to block this movement, a calm, courtyard-like garden space was created. Openings were directed toward the garden, while the road-facing façades were kept closed and windowless to ensure privacy and tranquility.
In terms of exterior design, the visible dimensions of the metal flashing—from drip edge to coping—were unified to bring visual consistency to the elevations. Additionally, each building was angled slightly in relation to the road boundary, subtly articulating the blank façade with shifts in light and shadow.
Despite the spatial constraints and rigid floor plan requirements, the project focused on site planning and façade design to create a rich and dignified residential environment within the framework of rental housing.