Takehiko Suzuki Architects designed House M for a Tokyo site measuring less than 30 square meters, or roughly 322 square feet. Located in Setagaya Ward beside an active railway line, the house sits on a narrow, irregular lot that was once larger. The owner chose to rebuild after plans to raise train tracks required the sale of part of the land, rather than relocating. Organised around a central staircase and split across levels, the house transforms circulation, storage, and structure into active places to sit, store, and live. Suzuki used a central, tree-like pillar and a spiral staircase to organize the home. This approach treats circulation as a place to sit, store items, and live.
From the genkan to the loft, each level flows into the next through carefully calibrated changes in height, light, and material. This design choice makes the house feel expansive despite its 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.
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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. This sets the tone for a space where circulation is designed to be used, not just passed through.
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.
Positioned between the dining area and the stair, a waist-high cabinet is accessible from both sides. This allows 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 plan feel open.
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Built into the living room, the sofa is set slightly back from the stair edge. It is designed to take up less visual space than a freestanding piece. Recessing the base gives the room a little more breathing room. Long enough to stretch out on or accommodate overnight guests, the sofa works as everyday seating as well as a day or guest bed, a necessity for compact living.
A simple metal rail is fixed along the balcony edge. It creates 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.
