Mitsuhiro Kojima Architects

Contemporary Design Residences｜Home Building Q&A Author: Qurasuki Editorial Department

Contemporary design homes are characterized by conceiving spaces suited to the lifestyles and values of their era rather than adhering to a specific style. Consequently, questions emerge regarding how far contemporary is defined and how trendy elements are distinguished from long-lasting design. Appropriate expressions shift not only with the novelty of materials and forms, but also with family structure, lifestyle, and the surrounding streetscape. Judgments also vary depending on whether current preferences are prioritized or a home that feels natural over time is desired. We organize the questions that easily arise regarding contemporary design homes from the perspectives of design interpretation and the relationship with daily life.

What kind of characteristics define a home with contemporary design?

Contemporary design is the philosophy of residences pursuing functionality and beauty matching modern lifestyles. Features include simple forms with suppressed decoration, linear compositions, and openness through large openings. Rather than being bound by fixed styles, it aims for universal design loved for a long time while incorporating materials and spatial compositions appropriate for the era.

When adopting a flat roof, what points should be attended to?

While flat roofs can produce a sharp and refined exterior, waterproofing planning becomes important. Slopes to drain rainwater reliably, drain placement, and the construction quality of waterproof layers dictate building durability. When utilizing rooftops as terraces, planning that also considers waterproof protection and safety is necessary.

Are there any tips for creating a contemporary impression through material combinations?

Combining inorganic materials like concrete or metal with natural materials like wood or stone can balance a refined impression with warmth. Keeping the number of colors down and highlighting the inherent textures of materials is also important. Unifying materials and color tones inside and out creates a beautiful sense of unity throughout the space.

How should a design heavily utilizing large-opening windows balance with insulation performance?

When providing large windows, adopting high-performance double-glazed glass or resin sashes is fundamental. Additionally, adjusting solar radiation through eaves or louvers and performing appropriate opening planning by direction can enhance comfort. To balance openness and energy-saving performance, comprehensive consideration from early design stages is important.

How should exterior wall materials be chosen to achieve a contemporary exterior?

Materials with inconspicuous joints—such as galvalume steel sheets, plaster finishes, concrete, and flat siding—are frequently used. Simple exterior walls generate rich expressions through changes in light and shadow. Choosing considering durability and maintainability alongside design aesthetics is important.

What kind of ingenuity is necessary to make the interior a clean space with negative space?

To generate beautiful negative space, sufficient storage planning is indispensable. By planning so daily goods can be stored out of sight, and keeping furniture and interior decor to the bare minimum, breathing room is created in the space. Organizing down to details such as switches and wiring results in a more refined impression.

Are there key points for lighting design in a contemporary design home?

Considering light itself as part of spatial design is important. Combining downlights and indirect lighting allows you to produce calm spaces with beautiful shadows. Lighting planning that suppresses the presence of fixtures while accentuating material textures and spatial depth suits contemporary design well.

How should it harmonize with the garden or exterior to bring out an indoor-outdoor unity?

Aligning the materials and color tones of the building and the exterior creates a sense of unity across the entire site. Moreover, matching the heights of the indoor floor and the terrace, and connecting them with large openings, creates a space where indoors and outdoors connect naturally. Arranging plantings without increasing them more than necessary and utilizing negative space makes the architectural beauty stand out.

I am worried whether contemporary design will look outdated in the future.

Because it emphasizes universal beauty such as material textures and proportions rather than trendy decorations, it is a design that relatively easily maintains its appeal for a long time. However, because aging deterioration of building materials and equipment is unavoidable, performing regular maintenance is important.

I want to incorporate custom furniture extensively. How should cost aspects be thought of?

While custom furniture can be designed to match the space, it tends to cost more than ready-made products. Prioritizing parts that dictate the spatial impression—such as storage or TV boards—as custom-made, and combining ready-made items for the rest, makes it easier to balance design and budget.

What points should be noted to secure earthquake resistance in a contemporary residence?

Even when realizing large openings or simple exteriors, planning the placement and balance of structural walls appropriately is important. Rather than thinking of design and structure separately, examining them in an integrated manner from the initial design stage allows you to balance beauty and safety.

What kind of mindset regarding landscaping planning suits a contemporary design home?

Narrowing down tree species and quantities to configure them in a way that accentuates the architecture enhances the contemporary atmosphere. Effectively placing symbol trees or planning centered around evergreen trees allows you to enjoy stable scenery throughout the seasons.

How should storage planning be considered in a contemporary design home?

To suppress a sense of daily life, placing necessary storage in necessary locations is important. Usability is improved by providing storage along traffic flow lines, such as entryway dirt floor storage or kitchen pantries. Using displayed storage and hidden storage selectively is also effective.

Can crime-prevention considerations be incorporated into a contemporary exterior?

Crime-prevention performance and design are fully balanceable. By devising window positions and heights, and adopting motion sensor lighting and crime-prevention glass, you can maintain a clean exterior while enhancing safety. Thinking comprehensively, including exterior planning, is important.

Are there key points for choosing a designer when building a contemporary design home?

Checking design examples to see whether material usage and spatial composition match your values is important. It is also safe to confirm whether they possess concrete philosophies regarding insulation, earthquake resistance, and maintainability, not just design. If possible, we recommend touring completed buildings to experience spatial qualities that photographs cannot convey.

Contemporary Design Residences