Blending Commerce and Comfort: House in Shirsagi's Modern Home with Integrated Store Design

In the tranquil neighborhood of Nakano City, Japan, lies a remarkable example of modern home with integrated store design. The House in Shirsagi, conceptualized by the innovative team at Buttondesign and realized in 2019, redefines the traditional boundaries between living spaces and commercial areas within its 90 m² footprint. Captured beautifully by photographer Satoshi Asakawa, this project presents a harmonious blend of personal and public realms.

Designing for Openness and Connectivity

Embracing the Urban Landscape

Despite its flagpole lot characteristic, the House in Shirsagi enjoys an unencumbered openness, courtesy of its adjacency to a vast parking area reminiscent of a park's expanse. This setup, while temporary like the fleeting nature of urban green spaces, inspired a thoughtful design approach that emphasizes connection with the environment and anticipates future urban transformations.

A Storefront that Welcomes

At the heart of the design lies the integration of a small baked sweets store, invitingly positioned at the residence's entrance. This strategic co-location blurs the distinction between the domicile and the bustling street life, creating a welcoming threshold that draws the community in.

The Architectural Journey Within

A Subterranean Sanctuary of Culinary Delight

Venturing deeper into the residence, visitors are greeted by an expansive, semi-buried earthen floor that hosts a sprawling kitchen. This area, designed as the house's nucleus, not only showcases the central role of "food" but is also envisioned as a future hub for cooking workshops, further opening the house to the local community.

Ascending to Light and Versatility

The second floor, emerging from the earthen foundation, offers a flexible living area that adapts to the residents' evolving needs. Shielded from the external parking lot, this space relies on skylights to bathe the interior in natural light, creating an intimate atmosphere disconnected from the immediate urban fabric yet deeply rooted in the home's core axis.

A Vision of Living and Sharing

House in Shirsagi by Buttondesign exemplifies the potential of modern home with integrated store design, showcasing how architecture can fluidly merge the public allure of a storefront with the privacy and warmth of a residential space. As this home continues to evolve and embrace its urban context, it stands as a testament to the adaptive and inclusive nature of contemporary living spaces, where commerce and comfort coexist in seamless harmony.

All photographs are work of Satoshi Asakawa