Kaku-Kaku Kanadel, designed by Takehi Hosaka, is a courtyard house in Tokyo, Japan, conceived for a family of three who are also practicing artists. The residence balances individual creative spaces with shared areas, creating a domestic environment that accommodates both private work and family life.
The house is composed of four interconnected volumes, each defined by distinct roof forms. Together, they create a small village-like configuration, linked by gardens, terraces, and passageways. This arrangement establishes a network of outdoor and semi-outdoor spaces that encourage both separation and encounter, recalling the atmosphere of alleys and courtyards.
all images by Yamamori
Individual creative spaces are balanced with shared living areas
Each family member is provided with a dedicated wing: one for scriptwriting, one for illustration, and one for musical practice. A shared living room anchors the plan, serving as the central space for gathering. The architectural team at Takeshi Hosaka organizes the spatial layout in a way that allows simultaneous activity across the household while maintaining visual and spatial connections through the open courtyards and terraces.
The project’s name derives from the Japanese words kaku, 書く, (to write), kaku, 描く, (to draw), and kanadel, 奏でる, (to play music), reflecting the creative practices that define the household. The architecture translates these three modes of making into spatial form, where roofs express individuality while the arrangement of buildings and paths creates a collective identity.
Kaku-Kaku Kanadel is a courtyard house in Tokyo designed by Takeshi Hosaka
the residence is conceived for a family of three practicing artists
distinct roof forms give each volume its own identity
the arrangement recalls the character of village-like clusters
gardens, terraces, and passageways link the separate wings
outdoor and semi-outdoor spaces encourage movement and encounter
the house establishes a rhythm of separation and connection
the design allows simultaneous activity in different wings
a shared living room anchors the floor plan
one wing accommodates illustration work
one wing is dedicated to scriptwriting
one wing is designed for musical practice
courtyards create visual and spatial continuity across the house
project info:
name: Kaku₋Kaku Kanadel
architect: Takeshi Hosaka / Takeshi Hosaka Architects | @takeshi_hosaka_official
location: Tokyo, Japan
area: 83.2 sqm
structure: Nawakenji-M Kenji Nawa
photographer: Yamamori
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
