A Residence for Relaxation｜Custom-built homes by architecture firms6Picks｜A Home Where Mind and Body Unwind

At the end of the day, a residence in which body and mind can be gently relaxed provides the foundation for healthy living. In housing designed with an emphasis on relaxation, the careful accumulation of sensory‑attuned details is essential: warm, tactile materials; a soft lighting strategy; acoustical measures for sound absorption and insulation that quietly envelop the space; and generously proportioned bathrooms and thoughtfully composed washroom fittings. A tranquil retreat removed from external noise, an atmosphere warmed by natural materials, and wet‑room design that supports comfortable daily routines — the architectural practice combines these elements with the living circulation to shape homes in which relaxation arises naturally. Discover examples of residences that allow the mind to unfurl.

This residence is a conversion of an office building. The temple across the site is incorporated as borrowed scenery from the living room, bringing a rich sense of extension to everyday life. However, because a cemetery and overhead wires enter the view at the windows, a conservatory is inserted between them to softly buffer sightlines and modulate the spatial relationship with the exterior environment. It is a high-quality living space carefully crafted together with a client with refined design sensibility.

This residence is a renovated 50-year-old house reborn as a private house for richly enjoying time alone. Making use of light pouring in from a skylight, the first floor is laid out as a one-room space centered on a doma (earth-floored zone). The living room, work space, kitchen, and bathroom are loosely connected, creating a deep, open spatial composition. On the second floor a training space reminiscent of a dance studio has been provided, with design features throughout to enable daily physical activity. It is a quiet retreat for restoring body and mind while enjoying time that is true to oneself.

Under the theme of an 'adult hideaway', we renovated a space that had previously been used as commercial tenancies and offices into a residence for a married couple. The spacious open-plan living, dining and kitchen (LDK) has the atmosphere of a bar where colleagues and friends gather, while also serving as a place for the couple to enjoy cooking and conversation. A fully custom kitchen and built-in wall storage create a calm, refined ambiance. It is a home where work and living, hobbies and rest coexist comfortably, adding a touch of the extraordinary to everyday life.

This residence is sited on the slope of an elevated hillside with views to the sea and mountains, and is conceived for a multi‑base lifestyle. Prompted by the increase in remote work, it was planned as a new base that accommodates both work and leisure. In addition to a study designed for focused work and dedicated spaces for meetings, the house provides flexible areas for family and friends to stay. The building employs natural materials such as timber and is situated to integrate with the landscape. Openings and vistas are composed according to programmatic requirements, allowing occupants to enjoy unhurried time with framed views of the sea and mountains.

This is a dwelling designed for a couple engaged in organic farming, harmonizing with nature. It aligns with their lifestyle principles and approach to craftsmanship, aiming to create spaces that gently soothe the fatigue of fieldwork. Natural materials such as solid cedar and diatomaceous-earth plaster are employed, and a fenestration strategy has been adopted to allow occupants to sense seasonal transitions and variations in light. The exterior also emphasizes the texture of wood, permitting enjoyment of the deepening patina over time. Additionally, a high-performance thermal insulation specification and a radiant heating-and-cooling system provide a comfortable indoor environment year-round. It is a serene and abundant residence that reflects the philosophy of natural circulation in the home.

A dwelling for a couple engaged in manufacturing who are cat lovers, and their young child. Under the theme “a comfortable house in which one can truly relax,” the project was carefully planned by reading the conditions of a newly developed residential district. By arranging the building in a U-shape to enclose a courtyard on the east side, privacy is secured while natural light and cross-ventilation are drawn deep into the interior of the house. In addition, gently zoning separate spaces for people and for the cat creates an environment in which both can live comfortably and without stress. It is a home where the family and their beloved cat cultivate tranquil time together.