Japanese architecture continues to innovate in the realm of small-space design, and this "hatted" concrete home is just the latest example. Designed by Apollo Architects and Associates, the three-story structure squeezes itself in a densely populated neighborhood in Tokyo without compromising comfort and the use of space.
Optimized for a couple and an elderly parent, the residence features concrete walls and an asymmetric, pyramid hip roof with cut-out, for which it has earned the moniker "Hat." Exaggerated wooden rafters in the high-pitched ceiling play against the austerity of the concrete, which was chosen as the main material to protect against natural disasters.
An atrium rises through a corner of the house, with the opening abutting a section of the roof’s glazed cut-out, which also functions to illuminate the central staircase below it. Interiors-wise, the floors are laid in hardwood, while dark built-in furniture, storage units, and partitions divide the floor plan. The lower level accommodates the parent’s room, while the couple inhabits the floor above. The top floor "attic" level holds the kitchen, dining, and living areas. Take a look below, then head to Designboom for plans and more photos.