Built for a multi-generational family of book-lovers, this 2,200-square-foot Tokyo home was cleverly designed to create private spaces joined by a shared library. On one side of the soaring, double-height common room is a two-bedroom apartment for a married couple and their son. On the other side is a slightly smaller apartment for the grandfather. For additional privacy, the programs of the twin two-story apartments are reversed—with the living room placed on the lower floor of one but on the upper floor of the other.
Designed by the minimalist mavens at Takuro Yamamoto Architects, the aptly named House with 30,000 Books features built-in floor-to-ceiling shelving with enough capacity for, well, 30,000 books. The building takes advantage of the site’s north and south-facing views with the library core angled 45 degrees. The space’s large windows now look out onto small sunken patios and more open areas of the neighborhood beyond.
The home’s exterior is clad in galvanized steel panels with vertical striations, giving it a sleek and futuristic feel. Inside, the primary material is warm natural wood, seen in the floors and built-ins.