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House with Doma Storage｜Home Building Q&A Author: Qurasuki Editorial Department

In a home with doma storage, where to place items unwanted indoors or daily tools impacts liveability. Required space and retrieval frequency vary by stored items, such as bicycles, outdoor gear, or strollers. Furthermore, larger storage does not necessarily equate to convenience, as positional relationships with the entrance and family circulation routes create differences in usability. Required roles also shift depending on whether storage covers shoes and apparel or focuses on outdoor items. Additionally, whether stored items are accessed daily or stored seasonally is a key decision factor. We organize questions concerning stored items, usage frequency, and entrance relationships that easily arise in homes with doma storage.

What kind of space is an earth-floor storage (doma-storage)?

An earth-floor storage is a storage space provided continuously with an earth floor such as an entryway, and is often planned so that people can enter and exit while wearing shoes. It can store items that are difficult to bring indoors, such as shoes, bicycles, strollers, outdoor equipment, and gardening tools. Its characteristic is that it can collectively manage outdoor tools while suppressing the domestic feel around the entryway.

How do earth-floor storage and shoe closets differ?

While shoe closets centrally focus on the purpose of storing shoes and outdoor items, earth-floor storage is sometimes used as a space intended to store larger items such as bicycles and outdoor equipment. However, there is no clear legal distinction between the two, and names may vary depending on housing companies and designers. Rather than the name, it is important to clarify what space the storage is intended for.

How can earth-floor storage be utilized for storing bicycles and outdoor equipment?

Earth-floor storage is a place where outdoor bicycles and camping gear can easily be stored without soiling indoor floors. By providing hooks and racks on the wall surfaces, small items such as helmets and tools can also be managed collectively. Usability is enhanced by planning passage widths and door positions considering not just the size of stored items, but also the physical movement when bringing them in and taking bicycles out.

How much space is required for earth-floor storage?

The required space varies greatly depending on the size and quantity of items to be stored. When storing bicycles, not only the number of units but also paths for taking them in and out and space to turn handlebars are required. Rather than simply deciding "how many tatami mats are enough," it is important to write down items to be stored in actual dimensions and determine the space including actions to take them in and out.

How should earth-floor storage be coordinated with a garage?

Enabling direct access from the garage to the earth-floor storage makes it easy to store luggage or sports equipment unloaded from cars directly. By connecting it with the flow line for carrying shopping goods to the pantry and the daily living flow line heading to the entryway, a series of actions entering the house from outside can be organized. It is advisable to examine the position of doorways, including measures against crime, wind, and rain.

How should ventilation and moisture countermeasures for earth-floor storage be handled?

When storing rain gear or wet outdoor equipment, it is necessary to consider ventilation planning so that moisture does not accumulate. In addition to methods of providing windows, mechanical ventilation can also be considered in alignment with the ventilation plan of the entire house. Although using interior materials with humidity-controlling properties is another method, it is not a substitute for ventilation. Not storing wet items for long periods is also important for preventing mold and odors.

How should flooring materials for earth-floor storage be chosen?

Finishes that are easy to clean even if soiled with dirt or water, such as mortar or tiles, are frequently used. There is also a method of choosing finishes that leverage material texture, such as beaten earth (tataki). When handling bicycles and heavy luggage, checking slip-resistance when wet and ease of cleaning in addition to durability is advisable.

How should shelf planning for earth-floor storage be considered?

Movable shelves that allow shelf positions to be changed according to the height and size of stored items are compatible with earth-floor storage where uses easily change. For tall items such as golf bags or skis, a method of securing space to store them upright without providing shelves can also be used. Usability is improved by pre-listing stored items and deciding shelf heights while considering usage frequency.

How should lighting for earth-floor storage be planned?

Because earth-floor storage may have small windows or no windows at all, a lighting plan that makes it easy to check stored items is important. Human-sensor lighting reduces the trouble of operation even when entering with luggage. To prevent deep shelves or the shadows of stored items from becoming dark, considering brightness on walls and around shelves in addition to ceiling lighting is beneficial.

How does earth-floor storage affect regulations such as building area?

When providing earth-floor storage, it is necessary to check the treatment of floor area, total floor area, etc., depending on the building's floors, walls, and compartmentalization configuration. Planning particularly large earth-floor storage involves examining relationships with the area allocation of the entire house and the floor-area ratio. Because area calculations under the Building Standards Act require judgment based on individual plans, it is important to check with the designer at the stage when a concrete floor plan is finalized.

What points regarding crime prevention should be considered in earth-floor storage?

In earth-floor storage with direct entry and exit from garages or outdoors, doorways must be planned including crime prevention aspects. When storing expensive bicycles or sports equipment, methods combining lockable doors, high-security locks, and lighting can be used. Examining visual line control—such as preventing stored items from being overly visible from the outside—is also advisable.

How should long hobby equipment such as skis and surfboards be stored?

For long items such as ski boards and surfboards, methods include providing dedicated racks or hooks on wall surfaces or securing places where they can be stored leaning against walls. Without considering the direction of taking them in and out and necessary heights, they can become difficult to take out once stored. Separately arranging items frequently used during the season and items put away for long periods is also effective.

What types of doors are easy to use for earth-floor storage?

Various methods exist, such as sliding doors, swing doors, folding doors, and open storage without doors. When entering and exiting frequently while holding luggage, it is important to select including door opening/closing space and operability. Choosing according to lifestyle—such as providing doors when you want to hide storage and making it open when prioritizing usability—is recommended.

How can earth-floor storage adapt to future lifestyle changes?

As family structures and hobbies change, items you want to store also change. Adopting movable shelves or putting in backing so that shelves and hooks can be added to walls makes it easier to change how storage is used. If there are predictable changes in the future—such as an increase in bicycles or the need for a stroller—leaving margins in advance is another option.

What points are good to communicate to the designer when planning earth-floor storage?

It is important to specifically communicate not only the types, dimensions, and quantities of items you want to store, but also how frequently they are used. Sharing connections with the entryway and garage, traffic lines for luggage after shopping, and whether there are items you do not want visitors to see makes it easier to devise storage planning suited to your usage. Consulting including tools that may increase in the future leads to spaces that remain easy to use for a long time.

House with Doma Storage