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Smart Small Space Design: House in Konan by Coo Planning

04.22.13 | By
Smart Small Space Design: House in Konan by Coo Planning

This small house in the town of Konan, in Kobe, Japan, sits in a quiet neighborhood and was designed for a couple and their child by the Osaka-based firm, Coo Planning. Built of reinforced concrete and wood, the residence is minimal with the needed space spread throughout four layers.

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Despite its small size, the house is smartly laid out and manages to fit all the living space the couple needed, including a garage, a deck, and a study loft above the kitchen.

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The floor directly above the garage houses the home’s entrance, a tatami room, a bathroom, and bedroom.

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View into the tatami room

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Bedroom

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The third floor is the family’s communal area with an open kitchen and living room.

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The space is completely open from the front of the house to the back, making it appear really large.

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The living room has an entire wall of windows at the front of the house making the space super bright.

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The ladder takes you to the study room loft that’s open to the living room and kitchen below it.

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Study room

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Photos by Yuko Tada, Coo Planning.

Caroline Williamson is the former Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk and a writer with a passion for modern design, architecture, and creative culture. She holds a BFA in photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, solving New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or curating Spotify playlists.