Located in a quiet residential neighborhood in Japan, Noble House by APOLLO Architects & Associates is a multigenerational home designed around a large verdant garden. Tall, board-formed concrete walls surround the garden to ensure security and privacy. Two large pine trees already growing on the site anchor the landscape design, which features diverse species intentionally scattered throughout the space. Adjacent to the garden, a large gate, and door made of wooden louvers leads to a long, broad approach where the focal point is an old olive tree opposite the front door, that offers residents a resort-like atmosphere.
Noble house has been designed for two generations, with living quarters divided between the building’s two levels. The first level is dedicated mainly to living space for the client’s mother, offering excellent views from the living room and bedroom of the changing seasons in the garden. There is also a small home office next to the built-in garage that gives the client a chance to admire their car collection as they work.
The second floor, where the younger generation lives, features a balcony that overlooks the garden while an interior terrace with a large skylight brings abundant natural light and breezes into the home, providing plenty of opportunities for outdoor living. A small courtyard on the north side faces onto the bedroom, bathroom, and stairs, filling these spaces with soft, diffuse light.
“In the era of COVID19, travel restrictions have meant that everyone is spending more time at home,” notes the Tokyo-based studio APOLLO Architects & Associates. “With its verdant, resort-like atmosphere, this design responds to the resulting demand for urban homes that offer a respite from the monotony of everyday life.”
