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Ridiculously narrow house in Japan

ATV’s foreign reporters visit a house that is less than 2 meters wide:

The owner of the house is Shigeru Suzuki, the operator of a company that designs and builds houses that fit in very narrow spaces. Suzuki build the house to his own tastes, including a lot of bare wood and even a little courtyard.

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27 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - December 28, 2009 at 9:30 pm

Categories: General Japan Tags:

http://www.mutantfrog.com/ Adamu

This video makes me wonder if Japanese TV can ever adopt a critical tone about ANYTHING. Even these cheaply built narrow houses get reverent treatment. I realize the guy probably paid to get his company featured on TV, but still.

I mean, they really have to stretch to say nice things. Unfinished wood ceilings? Natural and earthy. Have to go outside to move to another room? Just puts you closer to nature.

If someone actually buys one of these houses after seeing this segment, I wonder if they could sue for false advertising once they learn how horrible it is?

Ajapa

“Unfinished wood ceilings” may not look unusual if you had chances to spend some time in rural traditional houses, shrine buildings, and old temples. Actually nothing to be surprised. For a little courtyard, they mention on lighting and ventilation matter too but not merely “Just puts you closer to nature.” It may not be considered rational but might be barely understandable for some.

The owner of this house is introduced as a specialist of narrow and small buildings and his house is said to be just built for him to match his taste, living alone. In my opinion, bare woods and a courtyard are largely design concept issue and there are nothing surprising other than being constructed in an extremely narrow space.

If someone actually buys one of these houses after seeing this segment, I wonder if they could sue for false advertising once they learn how horrible it is?

Is this clip taken from a serious section of the World Business Satellite to give some information about and insight into recent trend in housing?
Weirdo

What are you talking about? It’s not the TV show making those claims. It’s the owner who built and designed the house that said he had those things in mind when building. Did you bother to watch the video?
asdafdfasfasffda

To me the wood things were about the only things I liked about this house. This truly is one agonizing building.
Kei

lols~
but it’s kinda cool don’t you think?
It’s actually better then where i’m living…>>

Lewis

I wish to get more information on shigeru suzuki company
web site.i really like his idea

http://yuris-life.blogspot.com/ Deoxys

I would not mind living in there.
Ap

That black haired reporter is hot.

yoga boy

I’d pound her mochi.

Fat Tony

Not that it really matters, but she is extremely made up on TV, and doesn’t look like that in her other photos.

Fat Tony

I’m pretty sure he doesn’t actually live there. There’s nothing actually in the house to show it. One would expect at the very least a few books on the shelves.

Weirdo

At the very beginning they mention that he hasn’t moved in yet.

asdafdfasfasffda

Like corporate head man would live in such and shit hole, it’s just an excuse.

yoga boy

The mid section open air portion is a waste of the space. I’d take it out and give more space for a real kitchen. I’d have the living room at the back end with the TV on the back wall giving your more space to sit back and enjoy. I would love to live in a house like that. I’d be interested in finding out more about his company and how much such a house would cost.
Japanfan

Anyone know the names of those two reporters or if they were raised in Japan? Their Japanese is unbelievably good!

Fat Tony

I believe the dark haired one is Sahel Rosa. Her parental house was bombed during the Iran Iraq War. She was then adopted by into a high class family, but because her unknown lineage was apparently a social problem, she was handed over to an Iranian living in Japan at the age of eight. So sayeth Wikipedia.

http://www.hormel.com Vonskippy

Our garden shed has more space (and is better constructed).

Instead of enjoying the small bit of open space those locations have, they choose instead to clutter it up with poorly designed so called houses.

Since Japan’s population is declining – why the need to fill up every little space?

I don’t get it.

Nicklas W Bjurman

Well a lot of people is still living in apartments and have as their dream to have their own house. So I suspect their is still a high demand for land and housing.

Mark

That’s not a house – it’s a rabbit hutch.

Ajapa

They call it an eel bed.

Mr. NES

I’m waiting for the day in which one of those things catches on fire. Getting out of that house looks difficult.

Also, I’d be afraid of gashing my head (or perhaps gouging my eye) on that staircase when I’m on way to the kitchen in a drunken stupor (and I’d definitely be drinking in the courtyard).
Jojo

OK, it’s not ideal for a 6 foot tall 200lb man, but anyone nearer 1.6m and 108lb wouldn’t have a problem. Both the reporters are quite tall.

And there’s more floor area and better storage than in my apartment.

I like it.
http://omipan.tumblr.com Gavin Veasey

That house might only be 6″6′ across but the house has a bigger bathroom than mine.
WhySoSmall

I’ve always wanted to ask someone, why the houses in Japan are so small?

The high cost of land should encourage building large houses – then the public spaces – like stairs – would be shared between multiple families, resulting in more effective use of land space and cheaper living space. The only explanation I can figure, is that a Japanese family regards a “private house” so much more valuable that they would rather live in a much smaller space than share the same building with other families.

I can, however, understand how the high cost of land would result in small apartments, but not why the houses would be so small.

Anyone care to explain?

Me

There are way more people living in Japan per area than many countries. So naturally, the cost of land will rise.

To build big houses, you need a big piece of land. How would you build a big house on a little land?

The house doesn’t look too bad.

Lewis

I wish to know more information on Shigeru Suzuki company
which makes small houses. Is there a web site that i can
go to. I saw some of his work on the history channel
i think. I reasly like the space saver area. I live in Virginia
and wish to see more his work.
http://www.zoelbathosai.blogspot.com zoelbathosai

Nice info, small home for big family

Ridiculously narrow house in Japan

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