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Collection by Winifred Bird

House Vision Exhibit Tokyo

What should Japan’s homes of the future look like? A few years ago, designer Kenya Hara posed that question to a group of Japanese architects and companies. The result is the House Vision exhibition, open through March 24 in Tokyo. Toyo Ito, Shigeru Ban, and Sou Fujimoto were big names in architecture participating; a carmaker, a bookstore magnate, a forestry company, and other eclectic industries joined in, as well. Here’s what they had to share.

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Shigeru Ban teamed up with retailer MUJI—famous for its super-simple designs—to create this “House of Furniture.”
Shigeru Ban teamed up with retailer MUJI—famous for its super-simple designs—to create this “House of Furniture.”
Storage units like this one stand in as walls and structural support—no posts or beams needed.
Storage units like this one stand in as walls and structural support—no posts or beams needed.
There are bookshelves, closets, and cabinets galore in the pared-down, boxy home.
There are bookshelves, closets, and cabinets galore in the pared-down, boxy home.
Legless kitchen island by Shigeru Ban, MUJI chairs by Naoto Fuksawa.
Legless kitchen island by Shigeru Ban, MUJI chairs by Naoto Fuksawa.
Artist Hiroshi Sugimoto collaborated with Sumitomo Forestry on this elegant interior. “It’s traditional Japanese style but it’s also hyper-modern,” the artist said.
Artist Hiroshi Sugimoto collaborated with Sumitomo Forestry on this elegant interior. “It’s traditional Japanese style but it’s also hyper-modern,” the artist said.
“I’m an unlicensed architect,” Sugimoto joked on a tour through the model house.
“I’m an unlicensed architect,” Sugimoto joked on a tour through the model house.
He designed the retro-modern chairs, too.
He designed the retro-modern chairs, too.
The fence is made from bamboo brooms. Why? “They’re cheap and ready-made,” Sugimoto said.
The fence is made from bamboo brooms. Why? “They’re cheap and ready-made,” Sugimoto said.
The “Edited House” was dreamed up by Tsutaya Books together with architects Masataka Baba, Atsumi Hayashi, and Hiroya Yoshizato from Tokyo R Real Estate. The idea is to let used-home buyers redesign their living space with maximum freedom.
The “Edited House” was dreamed up by Tsutaya Books together with architects Masataka Baba, Atsumi Hayashi, and Hiroya Yoshizato from Tokyo R Real Estate. The idea is to let used-home buyers redesign their living space with maximum freedom.
Residents would strip their condo or house down to its skeleton, then add new features from the real estate agent’s online “tool box” of choices. For instance, those who value their daily me-time might want to add a rolling study cubby like this one.
Residents would strip their condo or house down to its skeleton, then add new features from the real estate agent’s online “tool box” of choices. For instance, those who value their daily me-time might want to add a rolling study cubby like this one.
Sou Fujimoto collaborated with Honda on this high-tech home that integrates energy generation systems with the living space and family car. Solar roof panels charge the batteries on this electric vehicle parked in the light-filled living room.
Sou Fujimoto collaborated with Honda on this high-tech home that integrates energy generation systems with the living space and family car. Solar roof panels charge the batteries on this electric vehicle parked in the light-filled living room.
Toyo Ito’s semi-outdoor space—a collaboration with building-material company LIXIL—lets in light and air but keeps out the rain. The glass box on the far right is airtight. That’s where the kitchen/dining area and bedroom are.
Toyo Ito’s semi-outdoor space—a collaboration with building-material company LIXIL—lets in light and air but keeps out the rain. The glass box on the far right is airtight. That’s where the kitchen/dining area and bedroom are.
Japan, birthplace of the Washlet, continues to forge new ground in toilet design. This one by architects Yuri Naruse and Jun Inokuma and toilet manufacturer TOTO smells like a conservatory greenhouse thanks to the living wallpaper and floor. Perfect for all those Tokyoites without an outdoor garden of their own?
Japan, birthplace of the Washlet, continues to forge new ground in toilet design. This one by architects Yuri Naruse and Jun Inokuma and toilet manufacturer TOTO smells like a conservatory greenhouse thanks to the living wallpaper and floor. Perfect for all those Tokyoites without an outdoor garden of their own?