Architecture

Traditional Japanese dining experience inspires micro-apartment design

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The tiny 367 sq ft (34 sqm) apartment features a U-shaped kitchen with adjoining bench seating
Sim-Plex Design Studio
The tiny 367 sq ft (34 sqm) apartment features a U-shaped kitchen with adjoining bench seating
Sim-Plex Design Studio
U. Izakaya House features a master bedroom, guest bedroom, hidden bathroom, and a shared dining and living zone

Sim-Plex Design Studio
Space-saving foldable dining table slides out from the kitchen block
Sim-Plex Design Studio
The design studio sought to provide the young couple with a flexible and open home
Sim-Plex Design Studio
The master bedroom features a plethora of storage, boasting a wooden platform filled with hidden storage boxes
Sim-Plex Design Studio
The apartment can facilitate additional activities, such as working from home, exercise, yoga and relaxation
Sim-Plex Design Studio
A wooden sliding door conceals the modern bathroom
Sim-Plex Design Studio
U. Izakaya House is designed to replicate a traditional Japanese izakaya restaurant
Sim-Plex Design Studio
The contemporary kitchen is complete with blue tiling, gold-plated stainless steel splash-back wall, and an induction cook-top to reduce cooking fumes

Sim-Plex Design Studio
Hong Kong-based architectural studio Sim-Plex brings the buzz of Japanese dining to the center of its latest micro apartment
Sim-Plex Design Studio
The micro-home is filled with clever space-saving furnishings and an abundance of hidden storage
Sim-Plex Design Studio
The use of timber and LED lighting brings warmth to the home
Sim-Plex Design Studio
Modern bathroom, complete with a quartz stone counter-top, basin, and ample storage
Sim-Plex Design Studio
The bed extends to the window sill, allowing natural light to fill the room
Sim-Plex Design Studio
View gallery - 14 images

Hong Kong-based architectural studio Sim-Plex has created a stunning micro-home inspired by Japanese culture. The U. Izakaya House in the 57-story Grand Waterfront Plaza, Hong Kong, boasts clever space-saving storage elements and a U-shaped kitchen at its heart that's designed to replicate a traditional Japanese izakaya bar/restaurant.

“In Japan, if you want to have a drink and meal, the best atmosphere is generally in an izakaya,” explained Sim-Plex design studio. “Among most of them, the U-shaped izakaya can most highlight its characteristics: the chef or the boss is at the core of the layout, and the diners sit in the U-shaped bar table surrounding the center.”

At the center of the 367-sq-ft (34-sq-m) apartment's living space is an izakaya-inspired U-shaped kitchen, complete with stainless steel refrigerator, wall-mounted oven, washing machine, blue tiling, gold-plated stainless steel splash-back wall, and an induction cook-top to reduce cooking fumes. The kitchen is adjoined by a folding bar table and there is enough space for an additional dining table for guests if needed.

Hong Kong-based architectural studio Sim-Plex brings the buzz of Japanese dining to the center of its latest micro apartment
Sim-Plex Design Studio

Keeping the new pandemic living arrangements in mind, where occupants are required to spend longer periods of time at home, the design studio sought to provide the young couple with a flexible and open home that could also facilitate additional activities, such as working from home, exercise, yoga and relaxation. As such, it's filled with clever space-saving furnishings and an abundance of hidden storage.

The U. Izakaya House is home to a master bedroom, guest bedroom, hidden bathroom, and a shared dining and living zone. The main living area features multiple built-in storage units, and cleverly integrates a shoe cabinet; bench seating with storage underneath; a built-in magazine rack; and corner media unit with cabinetry.

The apartment can facilitate additional activities, such as working from home, exercise, yoga and relaxation
Sim-Plex Design Studio

The use of timber features throughout the home, keeping in theme with traditional Japanese architecture, while also bringing the warmth of wood to the space. A sliding door conceals a modern bathroom with a quartz stone counter-top, basin, ample storage, toilet and tiled shower.

Modern bathroom, complete with a quartz stone counter-top, basin, and ample storage
Sim-Plex Design Studio

The master bedroom features a plethora of storage, boasting a wooden platform filled with hidden storage boxes, full-height wardrobe space, while also serving as the base of the double bed. The bed beautifully extends to the window sill, allowing natural light to fill the room while also offering stunning view across the Hong Kong skyline.

The additional bedroom is currently unused, but offers the young couple the flexibility of having a home office, guest room or a children's room in the future.

Source: Sim-Plex Design Studio

View gallery - 14 images
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2 comments
Daishi
There needs to be more innovation in housing and community development in the US. The current trend of single family housing and car centric culture isn't sustainable for lower middle class and below and will lead to a worsening humanitarian crisis. EV's aren't solving that problem but walkable cities and bicycle infrastructure does.
ash
swing out support for the table would be better to leave the horizontal reinforcement at the top of the leg - the lower placement obstructs space for the feet under the bench
but overall the concept is very nice - pity in america a lot of people simply wouldn't fit through the openings