House of Maekawa

House of Maekawa, built in 1942 as the private residence of architect Kunio Maekawa, is a significant example of early Japanese modernism. The house brings together principles of European modern architecture with the proportions, materials and simplicity of the Japanese vernacular tradition. A timber-clad structure opens into a dramatic double-height living space, where exposed wood, restrained furnishings and carefully controlled natural light create a warm and highly considered interior. Today, the house is preserved at the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum in Koganei Park.