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The Very Small Home: Japanese Ideas for Living Well in Limited Space
The Very Small Home is an inspiring new book that surveys the creative design innovations of small houses in Japan. Eighteen recently built and unusual houses, from ultramodern to Japanese rustic, are presented in depth. Particular emphasis is given to what the author calls the "big idea" for
each house-the thing that does the most to make the home feel more spacious than it actually is. Big ideas include ingenious sources of natural light, well thought-out loft spaces, snug but functional kitchens, unobtrusive partitions, and unobstructed circulation paths.
An introduction puts the houses in the context of lifestyle trends and highlights their shared characteristics. The Houses section details each project the intentions of the designers and occupants are explained. The result is a very human sensibility that runs through the book, a glimpse of the
dreams and aspirations that these unique homes represent and that belies their apparent modesty. The second half of the book is devoted to illustrating the special features in the homes, from storage and kitchen designs to revolutionary skylights and partitions.
Building small can be a sign of higher ambitions, and those who read this book will undoubtedly grow to appreciate that building a small home can be an amazingly positive and creative act, one which can enhance one's life in surprising ways. In The Very Small Home , Brown has given home owners,
designers, and architects a fascinating new collection of ideas.
each house-the thing that does the most to make the home feel more spacious than it actually is. Big ideas include ingenious sources of natural light, well thought-out loft spaces, snug but functional kitchens, unobtrusive partitions, and unobstructed circulation paths.
An introduction puts the houses in the context of lifestyle trends and highlights their shared characteristics. The Houses section details each project the intentions of the designers and occupants are explained. The result is a very human sensibility that runs through the book, a glimpse of the
dreams and aspirations that these unique homes represent and that belies their apparent modesty. The second half of the book is devoted to illustrating the special features in the homes, from storage and kitchen designs to revolutionary skylights and partitions.
Building small can be a sign of higher ambitions, and those who read this book will undoubtedly grow to appreciate that building a small home can be an amazingly positive and creative act, one which can enhance one's life in surprising ways. In The Very Small Home , Brown has given home owners,
designers, and architects a fascinating new collection of ideas.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2005
8 people are currently reading
422 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 8, 2014
If you are looking for practical ideas on small home/efficient living for an existing house then this book probably isn't for you - it might give you some ideas you can implement but it is more about looking at the overall ideas of efficiency of space whilst maintaining function, comfort and a pleasant aesthetic in specific examples.
I still really like this book and would recommend it if that sounds interesting to you, but it is far more of an architectural study of a selection of Japanese houses than a guide to small space living. What I felt I gained most from reading it was a better appreciation for Japanese architecture and design, mixed in with a slight introduction to how that has been affected by recent Japanese history, as well as a new way of considering the use of space and the needs of people within living quarters.
I still really like this book and would recommend it if that sounds interesting to you, but it is far more of an architectural study of a selection of Japanese houses than a guide to small space living. What I felt I gained most from reading it was a better appreciation for Japanese architecture and design, mixed in with a slight introduction to how that has been affected by recent Japanese history, as well as a new way of considering the use of space and the needs of people within living quarters.
October 8, 2007
thinking back on the studio apt and cooking breakfast in the current 1 bedroom,
I doubt that the sprawling detatched ranch style home on a half acre, faux italianate Mc Mansion, Victorian giant cookie cutter will ever be in my price range (since a major metropolitan area will be a constant in our lives for the forseeable future) or in my category of desires (i tend towards modern and minimal) - I definitely want to own a house and want to be able to entertain family and friends in such a space so this book was just right
I doubt that the sprawling detatched ranch style home on a half acre, faux italianate Mc Mansion, Victorian giant cookie cutter will ever be in my price range (since a major metropolitan area will be a constant in our lives for the forseeable future) or in my category of desires (i tend towards modern and minimal) - I definitely want to own a house and want to be able to entertain family and friends in such a space so this book was just right
Read
December 4, 2011Love the details.
March 1, 2019
I enjoyed this book.
They actually give you floor plan layouts, and that was probably my favorite part.
Despite the spaces looking overly small, they're actually quite large.
The only problem is I know most of what they showcased is valued at a million dollars or more.
It took me forever to find a book with MODERN Japanese homes.
They actually give you floor plan layouts, and that was probably my favorite part.
Despite the spaces looking overly small, they're actually quite large.
The only problem is I know most of what they showcased is valued at a million dollars or more.
It took me forever to find a book with MODERN Japanese homes.
September 26, 2021
I was hoping this would be small-space living tips from everyday life in Japan, but instead it’s a series of brief glimpses into architect-designed small homes in Japan. Still interesting, but not what I was looking for. I would have liked the descriptions of the houses to be on the same page as the photos, rather than the floor plans.
March 26, 2019
More of a coffee-table book with some very interesting and stunning architectural solutions so small spaces than anything helpful for designing a small space. I did enjoy looking at the beautifully designed houses.
May 26, 2020
Este libro en sensacional sus ideas aportan mucho a la.arquitectura moderna
June 20, 2017
https://101booksjapan.blogspot.ca/
Tiny houses seem to be all the rage these days. I’ve seen them profiled on talk shows, on news programs, and online. If you want to go back to the start, a great place is the 2005 book The Very Small Home: Japanese Ideas for Living Well in Limited Space by Azby Brown.
The book profiles 18 very small homes in Japan - their layout, the features that make the space seem larger, and their techniques for packing a full life into a small home. The brilliant designs for storage are fascinating.
If you seriously dream of moving into a home like this, the first step is to read another book — Goodbye, Things. You simply can’t have as much stuff as the average person carts around and dream of a very small home.
Despite the recent profiling of tiny homes, much of this may not translate across the Pacific - with the lack of architects used to designing small spaces, the lack of craftsman to build from those plans, and the lack of similar building materials.
Even so, when when I dream of a home I will dream of these small spaces.
Tiny houses seem to be all the rage these days. I’ve seen them profiled on talk shows, on news programs, and online. If you want to go back to the start, a great place is the 2005 book The Very Small Home: Japanese Ideas for Living Well in Limited Space by Azby Brown.
The book profiles 18 very small homes in Japan - their layout, the features that make the space seem larger, and their techniques for packing a full life into a small home. The brilliant designs for storage are fascinating.
If you seriously dream of moving into a home like this, the first step is to read another book — Goodbye, Things. You simply can’t have as much stuff as the average person carts around and dream of a very small home.
Despite the recent profiling of tiny homes, much of this may not translate across the Pacific - with the lack of architects used to designing small spaces, the lack of craftsman to build from those plans, and the lack of similar building materials.
Even so, when when I dream of a home I will dream of these small spaces.
February 26, 2014
A quiet, pastoral and almost poetic image is associated with small homes in Japanese culture, and in Western society, as well: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and Emily Dickenson all wrote best when secluded in quiet cabins, seemingly released from the “great anxiety within society,” caused by economic depressions, political unrest and crime. A rich and fertile life is created within these more intimate settings because of, and not in spite of, the fact of their smallness.
A favorite highlight is the 4 x 4 House, whose vertical lines give expansive views of sky over bay or cityscape, and lend the mere 243 sq. ft. footprint its towering feeling of openness (total living sq. ft. 1268) on a mere slip of real estate (lot is 704 sq. ft.).
Clever natural lighting usage and ingenious storage solutions abound in this richly photographed coffee-table size picture book for sustainability dreamers.
A favorite highlight is the 4 x 4 House, whose vertical lines give expansive views of sky over bay or cityscape, and lend the mere 243 sq. ft. footprint its towering feeling of openness (total living sq. ft. 1268) on a mere slip of real estate (lot is 704 sq. ft.).
Clever natural lighting usage and ingenious storage solutions abound in this richly photographed coffee-table size picture book for sustainability dreamers.
Read
August 1, 2010Nice book with lots of pictures. The cutaway axon like sketches really help understand the incredibly compact and complex spaces. Sora No Katachi House on page 54 is my favourite, having a courtyard and using it to blend indoor and outdoor spaces. Unlike many of the other houses, it also has more "private" rooms and uses black and wood tones as opposed to many of the homes white are mostly all white.
July 10, 2008
We picked up this book because we live in a stinkin' small space. We have to be careful when we invite over families with more than one child so there's enough room. The solutions they had for small living were mostly very expensive, so I couldn't use any of the ideas, but the pictures were really nice and beautiful.
November 13, 2008
Nice pictures- but I can't understand how you could live with so little stuff- unless you just have a ton of money to spend on not having stuff :). The architecture was beautiful but must cost a fortune. This book is more for flipping through than reading cover to cover- and not about practical ideas for your own house- unless you're really rich.
October 6, 2010
love the informative writing and the detailed look at the various designs/spaces. i wish there were more photographs of the various innovative design elements and more background information regarding the various architects and home owners.
January 23, 2011
Got this as a Christmas present from mom. Read it in about 20 minutes, got some interesting ideas for the attic I want to finish. Nothing really inspirational in the home improvement/decorating genre for me, though.
May 17, 2009
Pleasant to look at, not much here for those not building (expensively?) from scratch.
October 2, 2010
I didn't read this one word for word, but is a great book. The Japanese have got this small home thing down!
December 7, 2010
Nice photos. Great book to get ideas from for your own small spaces.
May 14, 2012
Nice pictures to look at but clearly a 'living simple if you're very wealthy' kind of book.
Read
August 21, 2012Survey of contemporary small homes in Japan, often built in on very restrictive footprints.
November 9, 2013
There was some really nice interesting houses in here.
skimmed
May 24, 2014Most of the examples are way too stark and cold to me, but some of the floorplans could be interesting should we ever in our wildest dreams have money for an addition.
Want to read
April 14, 2015quiero leerlo en linea
March 8, 2016
Interesting, but I think it would be most helpful to someone building from scratch or extensively remodeling.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews