Tomoaki Uno Architects has limited the material palette of this windowless Japanese house to cedar and cypress to offer its sick owner a pared-back and therapeutic home.
The house, the sky-lit dwelling in Nagoya, Japan, was commissioned by a young client for his mother, who required a private and calming space to help her recover from an illness. Ogimachi House was made to "fill maximum function with minimal material" as explained by designers from Uno Tomoaki Architects. The structure consists of fire-proof cedar and natural timber, which provide heat insulation during the winter. The stark facade is windowless in order to provide privacy. The home receives natural light through an array of skylights.
"Eventually, I proposed a house with no windows on the wall. Instead, I designed 32 fixed skylights and five large openable skylights...when his mother started living there, I heard she was quite stressed. But I'm relieved to hear she is now very at ease." — Uno explained
