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 A Home for Culinary Enthusiasts
Tatsumi Negishi Architectural Studio
Tatsumi Negishi Architectural Studio

A Home for Culinary Enthusiasts｜Custom-built homes by architecture firms8Picks｜A Home That Makes Cooking a Pleasure

Author: Qurasuki Editorial Department
For those who take genuine pleasure in cooking, the kitchen becomes the focal point of the home. Functional work flow, storage planning that facilitates organization of ingredients, cookware and tableware, selection of cooktop type and ventilation system, sink height and materials, and the dimensions and finishes of the worktop—these elements have a direct impact on the quality of time spent cooking. In addition, layouts that allow conversation with family while cooking and open-plan arrangements that enable entertaining guests while preparing food are styles many people seek. An architectural practice does not treat the kitchen as mere equipment but designs it carefully as the core of daily life. Explore examples of homes where cooking takes center stage.

A Home for Culinary Enthusiasts

Tsukuba Midorino House

Yu Architectural Design Studio
This residence with an integrated coffee stand is planned within a land readjustment development area. The fenestration employs uPVC window frames, and a Type 1 mechanical ventilation system utilizing the underfloor void has been adopted. The building’s thermal performance corresponds to Insulation Grade 5, meeting ZEH (Net Zero Energy House) standards. The residential façade is clad in Galvalume steel panels, while the shop façade uses charred cedar (shou sugi ban); the overall design is intended to harmonize with the surrounding streetscape.

Mitaka House

Mochizuki Architectural Atelier
Located in a quiet, verdant residential neighborhood, this house features a private inner courtyard. Internally, the courtyard and the living–dining–kitchen (LDK) flow continuously; the first floor comprises a kitchen overlooking the garden, a double‑height dining space, a sunken built‑in sofa creating a corner living area, and the wet areas (bathroom/utility). The second floor contains a piano and library space and the individual private rooms. The exterior is clad in inorganic fiber‑cement panels, while the interior is finished with hinoki (Japanese cypress) ceiling boards and traditional shikkui lime plaster. The result is a gentle yet refined residence tailored to clients seeking a natural lifestyle.

IMAGINE

KICHI ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
IMAGIN, born from a renovation, is a residence that adds a subtle sense of narrative to everyday life and stimulates the imagination. At the heart of the space is an open-plan kitchen approximately 5 meters in length where the family gathers. A playful shoe room inspired by a Cinderella staircase, a reading space where a geometric desk stands, and a hotel-like master bedroom connect seamlessly. This architecture, designed to introduce delight within functional systems, embodies an aesthetic of living.

Residence with a Central Courtyard

Tatsumi Negishi Architectural Studio
A residence planned around a central courtyard, designed to be lived in harmony with nature. The layout ensures the presence of the signature tree can be perceived from any point within the house, and the greenery unfolding beyond the windows adds a tranquil accent to daily life. The garden views, which present different expressions depending on the vantage point, change with the passage of seasons and time, imparting a rich sense of depth to the dwelling. Within spaces where interior and exterior are gently connected, this is a quiet, comfortable home in which the nuances of the four seasons can be experienced close at hand.

A Hobby-Filled Residence Featuring a Traditional Irori Hearth

Archiplace
This is the couple’s final residence, tailored to their hobbies, sited on an irregular parcel with pronounced north–south level changes. Three volumes are arranged in response to the building height plane, forming an elevation distinguished by a refined pitched roof. Internally, centered on a Japanese-style room equipped with an irori that functions as a sunken kotatsu, voids and split-level floors gently connect the various rooms and balconies. The house combines seismic grade 3 with high thermal insulation and airtightness at HEAT20 G2 level, achieving both a sense of openness and comfort. It is a home that will richly nurture the life ahead while the couple enjoys their hobbies.

House of Weariness | Renovation of One Side of a Prewar Paired Row House

Yoshihiro Yamamoto Architects Associates
This project renovated the eastern half of a pre‑war Shōwa‑era two‑unit terraced house in Yagi-chō, Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture. The eastern half was stripped to the structural skeleton and a reinforced concrete slab (mat) foundation was installed; columns and beams were replaced and spliced as required to provide seismic strengthening. The entrance was dismantled and reconstructed using salvaged, reusable components. The plan was reconfigured into a highly circulatory layout centered on a well‑ventilated living room opening onto gardens to the north and south. Thermal insulation was applied to floors, walls, and ceilings; all building services and exterior joinery were replaced, and timber joinery was repaired and reused wherever possible.

hideaway: Building Renovation in Mito

e do design architects
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.

Duet House

Yosuke Tomiya Architectural Design Co., Ltd.
A residence in an urban neighborhood that, by addressing views from the surroundings, achieves a calm, naturally lit space through a second-floor living/dining/kitchen and clerestory windows. An original custom-built kitchen is located at the core of the home so that cooking and shared meals become the family’s focal point. The first floor includes a highly flexible garage using wood-wool cement board for enjoying the owner’s car and hobbies, aiming for a life where each person can immerse themselves in their pursuits while still feeling each other’s presence. The house has insulation performance grade 6 and ZEH Oriented certification, providing both comfort and energy efficiency.