
The Boat House on Land: Tokyo Artist Crafts a 613 sqft Open-Air Oasis for His Family
Imagine a home where the sky is your ceiling and the boundaries between indoors and out blur. In the residential neighbourhood of Zempukuji, Tokyo—a hub for artists and manga creators—architect and artist Zajirogh has brought this vision to life. He shares his distinctive 57 square meter (613 square foot) home with his wife and three children. Zajirogh sees his small house as akin to a boat, designed for comfortable living in a compact space, even using actual sailboat fastening devices.
The Open-Air Heart of the Home Defying conventional design, Zajirogh’s family home began with a simple yet profound desire: to live under the blue sky, much like their beloved camping adventures. This aspiration, combined with strict size regulations for new houses in the area, led to a truly unique solution: a living room with no roof, transformed into an open-air courtyard. This clever design not only circumvents restrictions but also brings the outdoors in, creating a core open area that doubles as the main entrance. The concrete floor in this space is perfectly suited for both indoor and outdoor use, and the choice of camping furniture allows for quick rearrangement and resilience against the elements. To combat Tokyo’s seasonal changes, the living room boasts heated floors for cozy winters and benefits from air conditioning in summer, which helps keep the cool air contained even with the open top. A large glass door protects the TV and piano from the weather, while items not meant to get wet can be moved to the side. Storage behind a steel door neatly tucks away less sightly items like vacuum cleaners.
Clever Interiors: Maximizing Every Inch Step beyond the open living space, separated by a subtle line on the ground and a drainage system for rain, and you find the indoor areas. The L-shaped kitchen, designed with a ceramic top, is a hub of activity. It features a stainless steel sink, a gas cooktop, a range hood, and even a fish grill. Open shelving provides ample space for kitchen items and meal preparation, while yellow doors cleverly conceal less attractive necessities. The space beneath the stairs is ingeniously utilized for additional storage. A large dining table, essential for a family of five, dominates the center of the kitchen, lit by three individually switchable pendant lights. Even the Bluetooth speaker, broadcasting TV audio from the living room, is hung above the table to save precious surface space.
The bathroom facilities on the lower floor demonstrate thoughtful space planning. Given five people using the bathroom daily, the vanity is separated from the main bathing area, allowing multiple family members to prepare simultaneously. The toilet is tucked efficiently under the stairs, maximizing the available footprint. A multi-purpose laundry room houses a washer and separate dryer, also serving as a clothes storage and changing area after baths. The main bathroom itself is a typical Japanese “wet room,” complete with a shower space and a bathtub that offers a unique view of the courtyard and entrance through a window. A curtain ensures privacy when needed, but on sunny days, natural light streams directly into the tub from the open roof.
Vertical Living: Upstairs Sanctuary and Adaptable Spaces Ascending to the upper floor, functionality continues to be paramount. Another toilet is strategically placed at the top of the stairs, acknowledging the need for two toilets for a family of five, even in a small home. Its custom door ingeniously doubles as the door to the upper floor itself. This level houses a small office and entertainment area where Zajirogh’s wife works and the children enjoy TV and games. Tucked into a corner is Zajirogh’s personal sanctuary: a mere one square meter study, packed with shelves and a desk, dedicated to his drawing and creative work. In the evenings, this multi-functional space transforms into the couple’s bedroom with the common Japanese practice of laying out futons directly on the floor—a testament to adaptable living.
The children’s bedroom is on the opposite side of the upper floor. They sleep in a loft above a large shared desk. A brilliant example of integrated design, the bedroom bookshelf serves as the stairs for the children to climb to their loft. Large windows flood both the study and bedrooms with natural light, and abundant storage throughout, maximizing wall space and height, keeps the home clutter-free. Looking to the future, this children’s area is designed to be divided into three separate rooms, offering more privacy as they grow. Access to additional storage above Zajirogh’s study is also available from the kids’ room.
A balcony wraps around the open roof, providing yet another unique space. Here, Zajirogh has set up a small desk for painting, unconcerned about making a mess. This is also where he can operate the mechanism to open and close the roof, highlighting the dynamic nature of the home. The house’s location in a residential neighborhood, with a large park, school, and shops within walking distance, further enhances its appeal for family living.
A Blueprint for Adaptable Living Zajirogh, as his own client, had the freedom to push architectural boundaries, notably by omitting the roof over the living room. This house is not just a home; it’s a living example of how to embrace unconventional solutions to urban living challenges, offering valuable insights for future clients and designers. It demonstrates that even within strict regulations and small footprints, imagination can create a comfortable, adaptable, and profoundly unique family environment.