5 Smart Design Decisions Inside a Tokyo House Built on Less Than 30sqm/322sqft

Set on a narrow, irregular site in Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward, House M sits beside an active railway line. Architect Takehiko Suzuki created the home on a compact 30sqm/322sqft site. It was once much larger, but when plans were made to elevate the tracks, the owner chose to sell part of his land and rebuild on what remained, rather than leave the neighbourhood he had lived in for decades. Rather than treating the constraints as limitations, Suzuki used them to shape a vertically layered home organised around a central, tree-like pillar and spiral staircase. The split-level layout compresses private rooms and expands transitional spaces, allowing circulation to double as living space.

From the genkan to the loft, each level flows into the next through carefully calibrated changes in height, light, and material, making the house feel expansive despite its compact size. Birch plywood furniture, exposed beams, and varied window openings soften the density of the plan. Stair treads widen, then contract. They become places to sit, pause, or store everyday belongings. Below, we highlight five design decisions that show how House M transforms circulation, storage, and structure into places to be.

1. Entrance Steps That Store Shoes and Offer a Place to Sit
2. A Raised Sleeping Platform with Storage Beneath
3. A Double-Sided Cabinet That Shares Light and Access
4. A Built-In Sofa That Gives the Room Breathing Space
5. A Hanging Rail That Acts Like a Balustrade‍

1. Entrance Steps That Store Shoes and Offer a Place to Sit

At the entrance, the first stair treads do more than lead upward. They widen slightly and remain open beneath. Shoe storage tucks neatly below, while the steps themselves double as a place to sit and put shoes on. By folding seating and storage into the staircase itself, the genkan becomes an active part of the home, setting the tone for a space where circulation is designed to be used, not just passed through.

2. A Raised Sleeping Platform with Storage Beneath

The sleeping area is lifted just enough to unlock valuable storage beneath the floor. Raising the platform creates room for suitcases, seasonal clothing, and everyday items. Instead of adding cabinets, everything is accessed by lifting floor panels. The result is a sleeping area that stays visually light and uncluttered, without sacrificing storage.

3. A Double-Sided Cabinet That Shares Light and Access

Positioned between the dining area and the stair, a waist-high cabinet is accessible from both sides, allowing objects to be taken in and out from the kitchen or the circulation space. Glass sliding doors on each facade keep sightlines open and allow light to pass through. Rather than reading as a solid barrier, the cabinet offers storage while helping the compact plan feel open and clearly organised.

4. A Built-In Sofa That Gives the Room Breathing Space

Built into the living room and set slightly back from the stair edge, the sofa is designed to take up less visual space than a freestanding piece. Recessing the base gives the room a little more breathing space, even though the footprint stays tight. Long enough to stretch out on or accommodate overnight guests, the sofa works as everyday seating as well as a day or guest bed.

5. A Hanging Rail That Acts Like a Balustrade

A simple metal rail is fixed along the balcony edge, creating a place to hang towels or laundry, without encroaching on the narrow outdoor space. The rail reads as a simple, almost incidental detail, but it reflects the project’s broader logic: even peripheral spaces like the balcony are carefully considered without adding visual or spatial weight.

Seen through the lens, House M unfolds as a series of moments rather than clearly defined rooms. Stairs widen and narrow, light shifts as you move upward, and many elements take on more than one role. The photographs below by Masao Nishikawa offer a closer look at how structure and circulation come together in House M.