Introducing Tower of Light and Wind, a custom-built home example by Kumi Inoue Architects, a Architect / Design office in 2-6-15 Kuwazu, Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture

Located in Momodani, Ikuno Ward, Osaka City, the site is situated within a densely built residential area characterized by narrow 4-meter-wide streets. The client’s brief emphasized a spatial closeness between the automobile and living quarters akin to a garage house, alongside a strong affinity for antiques and reclaimed timber, with a desire for existing furniture crafted from aged wood to harmonize seamlessly within the interior environment.

To ensure privacy from neighboring houses and the street, no openings were introduced on the facade facing the road; instead, light and ventilation are ingeniously drawn in from above the central staircase within the building. The structure is organized with a skip-floor configuration spanning east to west, creating interstitial gaps between floor levels that facilitate the permeation of natural light, airflow, and the subtle presence of family members throughout the home. During winter months, warm air generated by the air conditioning unit beneath the first-floor slab is circulated indoors via the staircase.

The garage features a deliberately minimized opening facing the street, while expansive openings toward the approach and the entrance alcove create a transitional space that, although external, remains visually shielded from the street, allowing for a more intimate, interior-like use of the space.