Introducing House with a Courtyard for Living with Cats, a custom-built home example by Archiplace, a Architect / Design office in 502 Palm House Hatsudai, 1-20-2 Honmachi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
The entrance is positioned near the center of the elongated north-south site.
Approaching several steps up, a wooden door opens beneath a canopy finished with molten galvanized steel.
Opening the front door reveals the courtyard directly ahead, with a Shima Tōneriko (Fraxinus griffithii) serving as the symbolic centerpiece.
The kitchen’s waist-height wall incorporates shallow-depth storage, ideal for organizing small items, dishware, and decorative shelving.
The dining area features a double-height space overlooking the living room, with the second-floor railing composed of wire mesh to prevent falls.
Custom cabinetry behind the kitchen houses appliances, and a door is installed at the entrance to restrict cat access.
From the kitchen, views extend through the atrium-like dining area to the courtyard, illuminated by pendant lights designed by Patricia Urquiola.
Shelving above the counter doubles as cat steps, seamlessly integrating a bookshelf with feline circulation paths.
The sightline from the living room extends through the dining area to the courtyard’s sculptural tree.
The front-facing window is a favorite spot for the cats, who often perch on the windowsill to observe the outdoors.
A detached-style Japanese-style room serves as a guest chamber, featuring narrowed windows to cultivate a serene ambiance.
A ladder from the pantry adjacent to the kitchen leads up to the wife’s hobby room.
From the hobby room’s opening, there is a clear view passing over the courtyard toward the washroom beyond.
The washroom facing the courtyard offers views of the Shima Tōneriko tree through the bathroom window.
The second-floor hall is designed as a future children’s bedroom, featuring a wood-grain ceiling finish.
The slightly elevated master bedroom is tatami-matted; wiring for AV equipment is routed within the walls to prevent cats from tampering.
A vantage point from the atrium looks down onto the dining area and courtyard.
The courtyard connects seamlessly with the interior on a level plane, fostering a sense of unity; it is enclosed by wooden fencing designed to prevent cats from escaping.