Herringbone House: Tiny Tokyo Residence Split into 7 Levels

This approach uses the full available height of the property, creating a comfortable space despite the restrictive dimensions of the plot, a common architectural challenge in Tokyo. The dining room, living area and private rooms are all set on small platforms with barely enough room for the furniture required in each. All levels are connected by a central staircase. The shop and bathroom are tucked into a concrete basement level, while the rest of the home is lined in a light and airy larch plywood. For privacy-obsessed Westerners, this may seem like a strange move, but interior walls aren’t seen as a necessary part of a home in many areas of Japan. Comment on Facebook Built on a system of parallelograms that create a herringbone pattern both inside and out, the home has no interior walls, dividing the rooms with a series of staggered platforms instead.