Homes Featuring Soundproof Rooms｜Custom-built homes by architecture firms8Picks｜A Home for Free Musical Expression

For those who enjoy playing instruments as part of daily life, mitigating sound transmission to neighbors is an unavoidable concern. Designing a soundproof room requires more than simply thickening walls; it demands an integrated approach combining sound insulation and absorption strategies. Measures such as floating floor constructions, double-wall and double-ceiling assemblies, acoustic treatment of ventilation and service penetrations, and control of the room’s reverberation time must be considered. Design specifications are determined according to the types of instruments, expected sound pressure levels, and hours of use. The architectural practice organizes the performer’s playing style and the required sound-insulation performance to create a space that allows musical passion to be expressed without reservation. This article presents case studies of residences where occupants live freely with music.

This is a two-generation residence designed so that the parent household and the child household can live at a comfortable distance while respecting each other’s privacy. It is equipped with a home elevator, with the parent household located on the third floor and the dual-income child household occupying the first and second floors. Each LDK (living, dining, and kitchen) is placed on the sunny southern corner, taking advantage of daylight and views to create bright, open living spaces. Moreover, by planning exterior spaces with designated functions for each household, the layout fosters not only ties within the family but also natural interaction with neighbors. It is a home where multiple generations can continue to live comfortably.

Situated on the edge of a new town, the site sits between a recent housing area and rich natural landscape with an old settlement. The house is a court-house organized around a small courtyard, with rooms linked in sequence and opening onto a large south-facing verandah. Opening the entrance reveals a continuous sequence connecting the entry, courtyard, Japanese room, verandah and garden.

"next" — a second house designed to be enjoyed from age 60 onward, for the next chapter of life. As a place to let go of the businesses you have built up to now and move on to a new stage, we planned spaces that include a studio for creative activities and an area with theater functions, a spacious living-dining-kitchen where you can relax, and amenities such as a sauna and a training room. A residence that richly embraces work, hobbies, health, and daily life, enabling you to fully enjoy the time ahead. It is "next", brimming with excitement and opening a new door in life.

It is a satellite pavilion with a small performance space, planned for people who love music. By configuring approximately two-thirds of the building as a sloped, double-height volume, a generous interior was achieved while keeping the overall height restrained. The roof form, which sits quietly within the surrounding context, is directly employed in the interior acoustic design. The resonance of a grand piano, various instruments, and the human voice diffuses pleasantly, creating a space that envelops rich sound from solo to ensemble. It functions as a refined small music hall where architecture and music quietly resonate.

Built in a densely packed residential area of Nishi‑ku, Osaka, this project is a two-family dwelling with fully independent units. Set among three-story houses, the design minimizes openings on the street-facing façade and introduces an internal courtyard, from which both the first and second floors draw natural light and cross-ventilation. In response to the owner’s profession working with sound, the second floor incorporates a soundproofed music studio, creating a residence where quiet and sound coexist.

A residence standing in a valley in northern Kamakura, greeted by a wisteria trellis. Taking advantage of an approximately 2.5 m level difference between the site and the road, the building is a hybrid structure with a reinforced-concrete basement and timber construction above. Passing through the entrance, a lane-like space appears and naturally guides you into the first-floor living room. Daily circulation is completed on the first floor; centered on a camphor dining table and curved walls constructed from soil of Kamakura rock, the plan offers a continuous, circulatory layout. A music room is located in the basement and a three‑tatami tea room is provided on the north side, adding a quiet, playful quality to everyday living. The exterior expresses a Japanese aesthetic with an irimoya (hip-and-gable) roof, while the interior is composed with an organic expression using stone and iron.

This is a rebuilt residence on a narrow, elongated site within a densely developed residential area. To improve a living environment that had previously received little daylight, a double‑height void and clerestory windows were strategically located so that natural light permeates the entire dwelling. Diagonal walls were introduced to create visual depth and a sense of expansiveness that exceeds the actual floor area. Natural materials, including solid timber, were used so the home can be enjoyed for the richness that develops with age. The design is intended to flexibly accommodate changes in family composition and lifestyle, aiming to be a house that can be lived in and passed down over the long term.

A residence centered on a single level that evokes a Japanese sensibility. Only the children's rooms are located on the second floor; deep eaves and a detached Japanese-style room create a composed presence. By incorporating multiple courtyards into the expansive plan, a rich environment is created in which light and air circulate to every corner of the home. The living room floor is slightly lowered to provide a place closer to the garden and earth. Conversely, the detached Japanese-style room is set at a height that overlooks the entire garden, fostering a feeling of connection between inside and outside.