Hasegawa Design
Customer feedback | Impressions of living comfort
We bring together our customers' individual sensibilities and discuss the lifestyles they want to live.
Building a home is truly a creative drama.
When you’re building a home for the first time, it’s natural to feel anxious—there are so many unknowns: budget, schedule, performance, materials, and more. Even with an architect on board, the design process can be an emotional roller coaster, and that doesn’t necessarily stop once construction begins.
As designers, we do our best to guide you—sometimes well, sometimes less so.
Still, the true value of a space created by architecture reveals itself after you move in. In the lived reality of everyday life—especially a few years down the line—you begin to feel what that space truly means. Looking back, I’m sure the worries you had during planning were ones we all shared.
In creating spaces, we are asked to pursue beauty. And we design in the hope that this beauty, as life unfolds within it, will grow into joy—and eventually, a deeper kind of delight.
If the voices of the clients introduced here can offer even a small guidepost for those beginning their own home-building journey—and help lead them to a happy outcome—we would be truly grateful.
VOL. 15
Kumamoto House | Inner Doma / Outer Doma | A space that makes you want to eat in all kinds of places
Beneath the warm, natural ceiling of this beautiful home, I’m writing this now as I simmer motsu stew in preparation for a joint birthday party for my daughter and my older sister’s eldest daughter.
Every single day, as I get closer to home, I turn the corner where the house comes into view—and I still catch my breath. At night, the exterior in the fading light just radiates warmth.
The blinds draw a bold horizontal line, echoing the line of the outer wall. It’s truly beautiful—absolutely superb. It multiplies the potential of the whole house many times over.
There’s something I have to tell you first. The first-floor ceiling—the one we agonized over until the very end. To get straight to the point: I’m so glad we kept it exactly as you originally designed it. It’s really, really good. In the daytime, the matte white finish gives the space a bright light that isn’t harsh or glossy. Even though it’s painted, you can still tell it’s wood.
And then at night. Under the warm-toned lighting, when I look up at the ceiling, the texture of the material itself becomes warmth. So this is what it was meant to be. Even the joints I worried about—they’re simply there now, naturally. It feels completely at ease.
In this warm house, I’ve gotten into the habit of slowly sipping lukewarm hot sake every evening. And out on the outer doma, I’ve gotten pretty good at handling charcoal fire, too.
“Papa, I love this house.”
My daughter said it—quietly, almost under her breath.
That made me happier than anything.
If I notice more things as we continue living here, I’ll write again to say thank you.
Thank you so much, truly.
★ “Good House of the Year” 2020 | Grand Prix Winner
Take a closer look at this home
“First thing after you get home: wash your hands and gargle.”
Learn from a doctor’s home-building plan. Whether you enter through the main entrance or the back door, the circulation is designed so you’re led first to a hand-washing station—and then straight to storage that holds not only coats, but even hats. It’s a smart, highly convenient layout and an ideal plan for keeping viruses from being brought into the home.
Photo | Inside and outside the dome | Lower and outside the dome
VOL. 14
Zushi House | Domadan Doctor’s House
Dr. Yoshihiko Nomura, who recently received the “Akahige Award,” a distinction recognized in the medical community, has been living for nearly 19 years in the Domadan home we designed and oversaw. Here are his thoughts on what it’s like to live there.
I moved to Zushi in 2000. At the time, the house was an older existing home, so I experienced the usual summer heat and winter cold. When it came time to rebuild, I had an ambitious hope: couldn’t we make a home that stays comfortable through all four seasons?
Back then, hot carpets, gas heaters, kerosene stoves, and air conditioners were the norm, and it was easy to imagine utility bills climbing. Even when I first encountered Hasegawa’s “Domadan System,” I was skeptical. But as he showed me three homes he had designed (one of them nearing completion), I began to truly feel how comfortable a wooden house can be—and I decided to entrust our home to the Domadan System.
The house was completed in December 2005, right in the middle of winter.
First, I was moved by the warmth the moment I stepped into the entryway. I was also impressed by how the changing room and bathroom design helps prevent heat shock. And even the doma (earthen-floor space) created inside the house benefited from the Domadan System. The living spaces have none of the drafts you get from air conditioning, none of the smell of a kerosene heater, and none of the noise of a gas heater.
Thanks to the collaboration between Hasegawa Architectural Design Office and the builder, we were able to obtain a home where we can truly relax.
This home supports me in my work as a primary-care and home-visit physician.
Director, Nomura Internal Medicine Clinic — Yoshihiko Nomura
--- A doctor supporting home care as a trusted family physician ---
“Home medical care is not simply an extension of hospital medicine.
It is medicine practiced within a patient’s everyday life—
medicine that supports that person’s life as a whole.”
Dr. Nomura’s steady, long-term commitment to clinical care is what ultimately led to the honor of receiving the Akahige Award.
Feature article
Doctorrs Journal 28 | Fall 2018 Issue
For those of us who benefit from healthcare, this is also a highly instructive guide.
It’s a message we hope you’ll read carefully—both for yourself and for your family.
Photo | Top: Professor Nomura | Bottom: Dining room with earthen floor
VOL. 13
A “Kids’ Living Room” as the Community — A Multi-Level Terrace on the Street Corner, a Detached Annex and a Curved Living Room, a “Stage” House
A letter from a client in Shiraoka City, Saitama Prefecture
My spouse and I are both quite particular, so we took a very long time to build our home. Along the way, there were countless moments when we found ourselves wondering what to do.
Each time, when we went to consult with Mr. Hasegawa, he always gave us answers we could truly accept—and I clearly remember how those conversations helped us find our way forward at every turning point.
Even when what we were trying to explain was difficult to put into words, he understood our concerns with remarkable accuracy and responded with great care.
If you look at the homes Mr. Hasegawa has designed, his skill as an architect speaks for itself—but beyond that, his character is exceptional. He’s someone you can genuinely respect, yet he’s never intimidating or hard to approach. At the same time, he’s not overly familiar, either. He keeps the perfect distance—an exquisite balance that made the entire process feel easy to navigate.
Our own stubbornness made the process take a long time, but in the end, he helped draw out what we truly wanted—and we were able to arrive at a home we’re completely satisfied with.
This home was featured on the cover of Hasegawa Design’s collected works and the “Totteoki Home Design Illustrated Guide.”
The Amazon page for “Totteoki Home Design Illustrated Guide” is available here →
Photo | Upper: Children's living room | Lower: Around the platform
VOL. 12
Connected by a Light Court — Making Effective Use of Underground Space
Sakurashinmachi House | A letter from a client in Setagaya, Tokyo
Looking back at the list of requests we created when planning our new home, our core concepts were:
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A bright, well-ventilated house
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A house with a sense of connection
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A house with excellent environmental performance
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A house with ample storage
We chose to ask Mr. Hasegawa in particular because he had a proven track record in designing homes that excel in (3) environmental performance.
He shared many ideas—such as his recommended “Domadan System,” and techniques for controlling direct sunlight by making smart use of deep eaves. Even on our long, north–south plot with neighboring houses tight on both the east and west sides, he proposed a comfortable living environment: the south side doesn’t overheat, and natural light reaches not only the first floor but even the basement.
The way the house creates a gentle sense of connection—so you can feel the presence of family members wherever they are—is also outstanding.
We’re truly satisfied that we asked Mr. Hasegawa to design our home.
Photo
Top: Section diagram of the light-filled atrium
Bottom: View from the high-ceiling living room toward the roof terrace and light court
VOL. 11
In Dialogue with the Sky — A Transparent, Light-Filled Atrium Space
Higashi-Totsuka House | A letter from a client in Yokohama, Kanagawa
Out of countless architects’ portfolios, Mr. Hasegawa’s work was what truly resonated with our family’s sensibilities.
After meeting him in person, we felt his design concept was a perfect match—and he also took in our many vague requests, like “we just want it to feel comfortable to live in.” That’s when we decided to ask Mr. Hasegawa to design our home.
At the very beginning, he gave us a questionnaire—not only about the house itself, but about what we value as a family and our life plans for five and ten years down the road. It broadened our way of thinking: building a home means thinking about how you want to live your life in that home.
Next, he came to the site, and we took a walk together while looking at the surrounding environment and nearby housing designs. Then, based on our various requests, he presented three different design proposals. The excitement we felt when we saw them! It was amazing—space seemed to open up in our minds, and we could even picture light pouring in.
To be honest, around that time, even at work I kept imagining the proposals and letting my thoughts run wild—it was a joyful time that made me feel like a child again. As we moved into the actual design phase, he didn’t just absorb our hopes; many times he offered professional counterproposals as well—“It would be even nicer if we did it this way.”
We’re truly grateful that he let us experience the real pleasure of “giving shape to our feelings about our home, and to the family life we envisioned.”
Now that we’ve been living here for five years, thanks to his work, we’ve been able to live comfortably throughout the year.
View this home in detail
Photo
Above: The light void is made of a light-transmitting floor.
Below: The blue sky and the beautiful glowing floor
VOL. 10
A Home That Travels — A Home with Rich, Lived Scenes of Everyday Life
Yagiri House | A letter from a client in Matsudo City, Chiba
Even now, I remember vividly the first time I met Mr. Hasegawa.
We exchanged a brief greeting, made a little small talk—and clicked right away. It took about three minutes. I was immediately convinced: “Spending the time to build a home with this person is going to be fun.” And sure enough, after exactly that kind of rich process, we ended up with a home where we’ve been living comfortably and happily ever since.
“Building a house” is probably one of the biggest events in a lifetime. Comfort, design, budget, regulations—so many things. Your dreams expand endlessly on their own, only to be sent back again and again by the many “realities” you run into. Preferences, spur-of-the-moment ideas, stray thoughts, anxieties… your head fills with a rush of fantasies and becomes total chaos. That’s why the process matters—maybe even more than “what kind of house you build” is “who you build it with.”
And that’s when we started talking with Mr. Hasegawa.
He may be called an “architect,” but in truth he’s a “communication designer”—or maybe even a “charmer” (forgive me!). I was genuinely impressed by the way he carefully gathered our family’s tangled and sometimes conflicting requests (it’s a two-generation household) and elevated them into a single, coherent form.
He solved each issue one by one, cheerfully and with ease. Every meeting was enjoyable, and I think that’s because through conversation he drew out new sides of our family, too. We also felt the great teamwork among the office staff and the strong bond with the construction company—visible in all the smiles on site. We could truly relax and trust them with everything.
Not only is the balance between the home’s “comfort” (it’s amazingly resilient—strong against both brutal heat and extreme cold!) and its “design” down to the finest details superb, but so is the communication skill that builds trust among everyone involved. They embraced us—breathless and overexcited about this “once-in-a-lifetime event”—and guided us beautifully.
To me, building a house is also a symbol of “all the communication that a life together creates.”
I feel deeply that the enjoyable home-building experience we had back then is directly connected to how comfortably our whole family lives here today.
Photo
Above: The house on the street corner, the movement space is the building's structure
Stairs rising downwards and into the sky
Photo
Top: The spacious, welcoming entryway—like a social hub
Bottom: The family together with Mr. Watanabe
VOL. 9
A Home for Active Seniors — Featured on Watanabe Atsushi’s Architectural Discovery, too!
The Bouldering Loop House | A letter from a client in Saitama City, Saitama
Even as we worried about how satisfying a home we could create within a limited site and budget, we began by sharing every condition we hoped for.
Mr. Hasegawa told us, “Please tell me anything—your hopes, your images, whatever you have.” Thanks to that, I feel we were able to talk freely and enjoyably about all sorts of ideas, regardless of whether they were realistic or not.
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We want it to feel open and spacious.
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We want a home where many people can gather.
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More than anything, we want it to be cool in summer and warm in winter.
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A home designed with barrier-free living in mind.
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Our current house is closed off on the north side, so we want to change that.
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We saw our grandchildren enjoying wall climbing at the park, and we wanted a playful home with that same spirit.
Now that we’re actually living here, I hesitate to praise it too much—but honestly, we’re 100% satisfied.
We find ourselves gazing at it from outside in admiration, and then again from the sofa—feeling even more joy than we expected at the architect’s distinctive design and the wonderful way the spaces are composed. It’s so free, flexible, and easy to live in.
If we could share a message with those thinking about building a home: first and foremost, it’s important to find someone you can relate to as a person—an architect and design office you’re compatible with, and with whom communication feels natural. If you do, construction will move forward in a fun, positive way, and even after completion you’ll be able to maintain a relationship where you can continue to consult them.
We’re also grateful that we’ve been able to stay close with Mr. Hasegawa and the entire staff even after moving in.
That’s exactly why our whole family has become fans—and supporters—of Hasegawa Architectural Design Office.
VOL. 8
A Presence Like a Beautiful Contemporary Sculpture | A letter from a client in Saitama City, Saitama
On the “power of design” at the Hasegawa office
Let me start with our impressions of the home they designed for us. The looks are so striking that even now I’m still captivated—but what truly explains our high level of satisfaction is that they designed the invisible parts as well, as one complete whole: circulation, usability, warmth and coolness, and the overall thermal comfort of the home.
When people think of Hasegawa Design, the “Domadan System” often comes to mind. But what’s amazing is that you don’t feel cold anywhere—not only in the living areas, but even in the washroom and toilet. It’s so comfortable it’s honestly hard to put into words.
They also proposed many ideas that were a real joy for us in the middle of raising children—and we were able to bring them to life.
They discreetly hid the parts that tend to look cluttered through clever door and layout solutions. They also placed the piano in front of the kitchen so I can watch my daughter practice while I’m preparing meals—yet from the living room, the piano’s presence is nicely balanced and subtly concealed. Friends who visit us often compliment this.
On the home-building process with the Hasegawa office
Looking back, we were truly demanding and indecisive clients. We agonized over countless decisions, kept them waiting, and often said things like, “Actually, we want to change it!” (embarrassing!)
We made many requests that probably sounded confusing or odd. Even so, the excellent staff at Hasegawa Design never once showed any displeasure—they accepted everything we brought to them. And if there was a good idea, they did everything they could to make it happen. On the other hand, when something wasn’t right from a professional perspective, they made the call firmly and clearly: “Let’s not do that.” We were genuinely grateful for that.
Photo | Top: Street-side exterior | Bottom: South-side exterior
VOL. 7
A Fun Split-Level Home with an Outdoor Theater | A letter from a client in Ichikawa City, Chiba
If I had to describe the defining qualities of Hasegawa Design in bold, simple terms, I’d say they are the “Domadan System” and the ability to give form to an image.
The Domadan System uses the broad radiant heat of a heat-storage concrete doma placed beneath the floor to regulate indoor temperature. Without relying on mechanical power, it naturally keeps the entire house at a comfortable temperature.
On a cold winter day, when we come home and open the front door and feel that soft wave of warmth, it makes us think, “Ah… I’m home.”
Even in the heat of summer, if we keep the Domadan System running, its summer performance allows us to live comfortably.
The ability to give form to an image
This, too, is something we find outstanding. Aside from our interest in installing the Domadan System for thermal comfort (warmth in winter, coolness in summer), our image of what we wanted in a home was still somewhat vague.
After listening to our wishes, surveying the home we were living in at the time, and talking things through with us—when we saw the first set of drawings, I remember being astonished: They had captured the very “core” of our indistinct image.
Photo | Top: Garden theater | Bottom: Workspace
VOL. 6
Borrowed Greenery from the Shrine Approach — A Home with Beautiful, Efficient Housework Flow
A letter from a client in Itabashi City, Tokyo
I’m writing this from the desk corner of the home we completed together with Hasegawa Architectural Design Office, facing a large double-height space.
There are so many wonderful things about Hasegawa Design, but if I had to sum it up within the limited space here, it would be: “A stylish home that doesn’t require you to put up with discomfort.” Mr. Hasegawa’s homes are easy to live in, stylish, and full of beautiful spaces.
Above all, their original system called “Domadan,” which supports the home’s visual beauty, has proven to be even more comfortable than we ever imagined. We had lived in a highly airtight, well-insulated house before, so we assumed there wouldn’t be a huge difference—but we were completely wrong. It was totally different.
The comfort is hard to describe—and on top of that, our electricity bills are lower. It’s truly amazing!!
My mother, now elderly, may (or may not) be able to keep up with the stylish space that suits my taste, but she’s genuinely impressed by Domadan’s excellent performance. It’s an especially comfortable home for seniors—and it feels like she’ll live a long life here.
As for our impressions of the design and project supervision, I have to mention the outstanding staff who supported Mr. Hasegawa.
The staff member in charge handled detailed—truly detailed—meetings with us, and they were kind, attentive, and worked incredibly hard. No matter how much I praise them, it still doesn’t feel like enough.
In the end, I think satisfaction in building a home comes down to design ability and quality of support.
Photo
Top: Evergreen trees—the vivid greenery along the shrine approach reflected in the high windows
Bottom: The second-floor desk nook facing the double-height space
Best of Houzz 2020 & 2019 Consecutive Award Winner | A house that takes advantage of the greenery of the approach to the shrine | An overwhelmingly energy-efficient home
VOL. 5
A Gallery House for Living with Art
A letter from a client in Tsukubamirai, Ibaraki Prefecture
In the apartment we lived in at first, winter brought such severe condensation that it left stains on the floor—and even mold appeared. We grew fed up with that kind of life and started looking for a home that felt like us: one that combined livability with strong design.
We asked Mr. Hasegawa to create a house with thorough measures against condensation. For our family’s health, we didn’t want to keep worrying about mold and dampness. We also told him we didn’t want to have any regrets, since building a home is a once-in-a-lifetime project. And we made it clear that we wanted both comfort and design—without compromising either.
I also paint. I had several larger works I’d made over the years, and my wife loves them too, so we told him we wanted to display them in the house. Mr. Hasegawa truly listens. The word “creative” suits him perfectly. He took each thing we said and translated it into something concrete. The communication built real trust—and it was genuinely fun.
He listened carefully to our needs around the kitchen and turned them into a real plan. Storage, too, has proven incredibly practical in daily life. The living room ceiling is high and feels wonderful. We also love the nighttime atmosphere when the lights are on. There aren’t a huge number of rooms, but for a family of four, it’s exactly right. The kitchen and storage are full of smart ideas. On the second floor, the closet is movable—shift it and you can divide the space into two rooms, so in the future our two children can each have their own room.
We’re also very satisfied with the garden—it’s truly easy to use. Barbecuing on the lawn has become one of our favorite pleasures. The home uses a lot of solid wood, and there’s a reassuring sense that it will only gain character as it ages. I don’t think that commitment to natural materials is unrelated to how comfortable the house feels. The interior tones also blend beautifully with the paintings we’ve displayed.
Above all, we can hardly imagine the condensation problems we used to struggle with. The “Domadan System” Mr. Hasegawa developed really shows its power in winter.
There isn’t a single cold spot anywhere in the house— not even the toilet or the bathroom. We don’t need a stove or any other heater at all. It truly feels like we’ve achieved both comfort and design.
From condensation prevention to the sense of spaciousness and the relationship between the interior and the garden—our satisfaction just keeps growing.
Photo
Top: Outdoor atelier
Bottom: A spatial composition designed to accommodate large-scale artwork
VOL. 4
A Home Where the Family Can Thrive — A letter from clients in Fukaya, the hometown of “GariGari-kun”
We’ve been living very comfortably in a home with distinctive, original spaces and a dynamic exterior. The excitement we felt when looking at the drawings is still a precious memory I’ll never forget.
In the spacious living room with its double-height ceiling, our children run around full of energy. Wherever we are, we can hear each other’s voices—and our whole family is satisfied, living brightly and cheerfully.
And of course, the key thing to talk about this time is the “Domadan System,” which lets us raise our children in a natural temperature all year round without relying on heating or air conditioning. Now that we’re actually living here, we’re amazed: the construction is so well-insulated that it’s cool in summer and warm in winter, and because the temperature is almost the same throughout the house, we’re surprised at how little we need to use heating and cooling at all. The ventilation is also excellent, and on nice days we open the windows and enjoy how pleasant the day feels.
Mr. Hasegawa keeps in touch regularly and continues to advise us even after we moved in, including on small day-to-day questions. For example, right now he’s giving us advice on installing solar panels with energy savings in mind. He listens closely to our requests and consults with us sincerely, which gives us great peace of mind.
More than detailed requests, what we wanted first was an open, expansive home that makes the most of the size of the land—so we could raise our children freely and comfortably. We also hoped for a home where you can feel the presence of the family.
We also shared our wishes around comfort: a naturally warm home even in winter, good airflow and sunlight, and measures against summer heat.
My wife in particular doesn’t like air conditioning and heating very much, so she was deeply moved by the idea of the Domadan System. Beyond that, we asked for all kinds of things—from specific ways we imagined spending time at home to the view we would see from the living room.
Having gone through home-building once, I can say this: it’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime ceremony, so don’t hesitate—share what you want, and build a home you’re genuinely satisfied with. It’s easy to think of home-building as just the few months of planning before construction, but it’s not.
A home is something you live in for a lifetime, so I hope you’ll expand your imagination as much as possible—so the house can respond to all kinds of situations after you move in.
Photo
Top: A laundry-drying balcony connected to the skip-floor stair landing
Bottom: Children’s rooms “floating” within the double-height space, along with the kids’ living area
VOL. 3
Courtyard Privacy and the Calm of Japanese Aesthetics — A letter from a client in Urawa
When we first began consulting with the Hasegawa office, we simply listed everything we were struggling with.
The home we were living in at the time was quite old. Our household included my grandmother, three children, and us as a couple. But especially in winter, the house was colder than outside, it was dark, and our utility bills kept climbing.
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We wanted to secure as much sunlight as possible.
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We wanted it to be warm in winter (an absolute requirement).
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We wanted you to take into account the large apartment building and the school to the south.
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We needed solutions for issues related to the large parking lot and the convenience-store parking lot on the south side.
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We wanted a home that would be comfortable for elderly family members as well.
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We wanted consideration for feng shui / the kimon (unlucky direction) that my grandmother was concerned about.
Now that we’re in our new home, we actually look forward to winter. We’ve also come to appreciate how wonderful life can be without using air conditioning.
Thinking back, if we had purchased a ready-built house, the price would have been clear, and we would have had to squeeze our wishes into whatever fit within that. But building with an architect gave us the real feeling that we could create a home with our “requests and dreams” prioritized to the fullest.
The completed home is, in any case, comfortable throughout the year. The Domadan System is especially impressive in winter—we’re simply not bothered by the cold.
We’ve come to enjoy spending winter at home, and we’ve experienced how great it is to live without relying on air conditioning. And even though the new house is larger than before—and despite the fact that there’s almost no temperature difference within the home—our utility costs have actually gone down. That exceeded our expectations.
Photo
Top: A façade that gently screens views from the large parking lot and the mid-rise apartment building
Bottom: A living room filled with soft, indirect daylight
VOL. 2
A Wonderful Home with a Light-Filled Atrium and a Through-Doma
“It’s like being wrapped in sunshine!” — A letter from a client in Kawasaki City
It’s been many years since our home was completed and we moved in. Despite a limited budget—and a site where the south side is blocked by an apartment building—our home has wonderful natural light and airflow, while still maintaining privacy. We’re extremely satisfied.
The design is thoughtfully detailed far beyond what we initially requested, making it very easy to live in. For us, it’s the best house in Japan.
At the planning stage, we lined up a long list of dreamlike requests without worrying about budget. Yet while taking our wishes as fully as possible, you also offered many proposals, patiently worked them into the design, and helped us create a home we could truly be satisfied with—something we’re proud of.
It’s a three-story house, with a piano & PC room that opens through from the first to the third floor, and a dining kitchen with a double-height space from the second to the third floor. Even when family members are on different floors, the spaces connect beautifully, creating a real sense of togetherness.
In this way, even though it’s a three-story home, our voices carry between floors and we can sense each other’s presence. We can communicate easily without even using the intercom.
The warmth is unmatched. If I had to describe it, it feels like being gently wrapped in the soft sunshine of a spring day—so much so that you hardly feel as if any heating is being used. Even in the coldest season, we don’t rely on other heaters; we move around lightly dressed and comfortable.
I feel that what made this kind of design possible is the Domadan System. I’m not good with the warm air from air conditioners, so being able to get through winter without turning one on at all is pure happiness. Because of that, when we go out, the moment we open the front door we’re often shocked by how cold it is outside—and sometimes end up running back in to grab a jacket (laugh).
As you work toward the goal of completion, I hope you’ll give yourself plenty of time and enjoy the process of creating a home you can truly be happy with. Unlike “buying” a ready-made house, this is something you “build” through collaboration—with the architect, the staff, and the carpenters and craftsmen. Being able to live in a home made with such sincerity is a wonderful kind of happiness.
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Top: The through-doma (earthen-floor passage)
Bottom: Exterior view
VOL. 1
A Home That Satisfies All Five Senses — A letter from the Aiba family in Ōta, Tokyo
Our home is a basement level plus two stories above ground, built to the fullest on a site in Tokyo that certainly isn’t large. And yet, the open spaces make the land’s tightness disappear. Each area properly fulfills its role, and you created a wonderful sense of ma—those beautifully balanced “in-between” moments of space.
We’re truly grateful to be able to live without feeling seasonal temperature swings inside the house. Even in the harshest cold, we can genuinely enjoy the changing seasons of the greenery next door through the windows. The children are perfectly fine in T-shirts, and it’s an active home where we can move about anywhere without worrying about the cold.
I think the essential foundation supporting all of this is the Domadan System. In every season except midsummer, it gives the people who live here the best kind of comfortable daily life.
My favorite place is the basement. At first, we planned it without a specific purpose, but now it has become the kids’ exercise space. Since there’s no furniture at all, they can play ball or jump rope.
Because it’s indoors, they can play at night and even on rainy days, so after I get home from work, the children often beg me to play ball with them. In our house, we call it “the gym.” This basement is warm in winter, and in summer the floor feels cool—so if you lie down, you can’t help but drift off into a nap.
As for what we did during the design process, the first thing was to list out our family’s wishes and put them into a single document.
(Anything is fine, even the smallest request—gather them all and prioritize them. Of course there may be contradictions, but you work through them in meetings and make trade-offs, so I think it’s okay if some wishes conflict.)
Second, because you need to convey your everyday rhythm in order to build a home that truly fits you, we shared our daily time chart and our family’s preferences.
During the basic design and detailed design stages, we checked the drawings against our wishes and gave many detailed requests. But for the parts that came down to taste after the working drawings phase, we mainly communicated the image we had in mind—and then entrusted most of it to Mr. Hasegawa and his staff’s sense of design.
In our case, I think that turned out to be the right choice.
Photo
Top: Exterior view
Bottom: Basement hobby space
Hasegawa Architectural Design Office
｜Hasegawa Design JP
〒104-0033
東京都中央区新川2-19-8 SHINKA 11階
SHINKA11F,2-19-8 Shinkawa,Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Hasegawa Design JP
