This unusually shaped building is a home and barbershop in Gunma, a small town in the Shinto prefecture of Japan. The dual-function space was created by the respective architecture firms SNARK and OUVI for the owners of H.I.D.A.S Barbershop. Both the lower-level storefront and the private areas upstairs are starkly designed and decorated for a fresh, minimalist look. On the upper stories, natural lighting streams in from the windows, and there is a clear view of the surrounding landscape. The rooms are angular, creating many nooks for study and reflection, and they are functionally styled with exposed wooden rafters and built-in shelving. At the very of the house, there is an attic, accessible by ladder, where the residents can store their things and admire the roadside and mountainside alike.

Photography by Ippei Shinzawa

    string(5) "Holly"
Avatar photo

Holly

Holly is a poet from Kentucky. She grew up first in a Sears house, then on a farm. She studied English and Gender Studies at Mount Holyoke College and moved to Manhattan for love. As an occasional jewelry-maker and museum patron, Holly favors wearable and functional design but is eager to see work that challenges her aesthetics. Read more and connect by visiting her blog, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Tags: , , , ,
    • The Big Zip

      Architecture

      A modern cows’ shed designed with spacious areas and a walkway that allows visitors to…

    • Apartment with a Library

      Architecture

      The collaborative renovation and transformation project of a Milan apartment with an unconventional layout. Located…

    • The Fyrgani Holiday House

      Architecture

      A charming dry stone house designed with blue elements that reference the color of the…

    • Casa Ulìa

      Architecture

      A contemporary stone house, nestled among olive trees in the Italian countryside. Carefully built among…

    • House in Kutná Hora

      Architecture

      A thoughtful redesign and modernization of a 19th century house. The renovation of an aged…

loader