A first-class architect teaches! “Useless Floor Plan, Inconvenient Floor Plan” for current lifestyle
Mr. RikudouFeeling blissful in the sunlight as you dry your sheets and iron while experiencing a sense of contentment as your wrinkles disappear. I think people who enjoy housework may enjoy the process as well as the results, but for those who aren’t good at it, those who want to do other things than housework, and those who tend to spend a lot of time at work, they don’t have time to enjoy it, rather it’s just painful. You want instant results without the process.
Unfortunately, I’ve had no choice but to put up with such an idea in the past. However, with the changing times, home appliances have evolved, the ways of working of men and women have diversified, and the values of housework have changed, and at the same time, this statement has finally started to attract attention. This time we will introduce the floor plans that are starting to be described as “unnecessary and inconvenient”.
* Mainly for single-family homes of households living in Tokyo and other suburbs.
Useless now, inconvenient 1: sink in the bathroom dressing room
Come to think of it, why are the dressing room and the sink a set? Why is it convenient to get out of the tub and take care of your skin and dry your hair? There is a point to this, but it doesn’t have to be the same space. The biggest downside to this combination is the inconvenience when using it for purposes other than bathing.
For example, when you have a visitor. When we have guests, we ask them to wash their hands first. And if the toilet doesn’t have a simple hand wash, you’ll have to use the sink every time. In other words, the bathroom and the washing machine (if you have one) are always in sight. That means you have to clean there when you have guests. Even if you are busy cleaning the living room and kitchen that you are invited to, there must be many people who feel exhausted and angry when they are having fun.
Also, when you get ready in the morning. Some people shower, some don’t. For those who don’t take a bath, they have to go to the bathroom. Why do I have to go to the bathroom when I’m not taking a bath! And because the locker room is a limited space, it can be a big traffic jam for families with large numbers of people. I want to brush my teeth and gargle, but the blow dryer occupies the sink. It is a common sight in Japan to reluctantly gargle and wash one’s face in the kitchen.
To solve these problems in Reiwa, more and more people say that instead of installing the washbasin in the bathroom dressing room, they install it in the corridor between the entrance and the living room. If you install it in a common area such as a corridor, the bathroom can be kept private even if there are visitors, and the width of the basin can be expanded, so that more people can brush their teeth or blow their hair side by side, reducing traffic congestion. You can also think about effective use of common areas in a small living space.
As a demerit, is it a point that the corridor floor is easily damaged by moisture and the corridor is crowded? However, I personally think the benefits outweigh them.
Useless now, uncomfortable part 2: face-to-face cooking
A front kitchen is a style in which a dining table is set out on the other side of what is called a counter kitchen or kitchen island. I think it’s a very familiar layout for many people. However, it seems that fewer and fewer people are adopting it now. What is emerging instead is what is called a “horizontal lunch”.
This is literally a layout where the dining table is set up in a straight line next to the so-called kitchen like the stove and sink. The bonus is that it makes serving meals super easy. When eating, just slide the table to bring the food to the table, thus the line of movement for household chores is significantly shortened.
As a point to note, because the distance from the kitchen is close, small children can easily touch dangerous objects such as knives and fire, you need to have a space where they can stand side by side, there is a distance from the living room, and visitors can see the inside of the kitchen. It might be safe to avoid it when your child is small, but if you think the daily portion will go easier, you can personally close your eyes to the other drawbacks.
Useless and inconvenient part 3: under-floor storage in the kitchen
Effective use of the kitchen subfloor! The idea is diminishing. Rather, issues such as difficulty inserting and extracting and concern about moisture are more apparent. That said, it’s essential to have a dedicated space in the kitchen to store perishable foods, daily necessities, and kitchenware. The mainstream is an independent space called a pantry.
There are various types, such as cabinets, shelves and corners of kitchen drawers, they all seem to make it. One of the supporting factors is that it is easy to manage because you can store kitchen-related items together.
One point to note about each is that while walk-ins can store a large amount of items and are easy to get in and out, they can’t be placed in space for people to fit. In other words, there’s a lot of dead space.
If you use a fixed shelf, there will be things that can’t be stored because the dimensions don’t match, so it’s best to use a floating shelf. Also, if you add a door, the storage space will be occupied by the thickness of the door, so even if you prepare a container for dividing according to the depth dimension of the shelf indicated in the drawing, it may not fit. . To make the most of the space, we recommend using roll-up screens or bar-style curtains instead of doors.
As for the drawers, it is difficult to store large items such as 2L plastic bottles, bottles, rice, kitchen paper, etc., and you need to ensure a separate space. Write down your storage items and think about how much space you need.
So far we have introduced “unnecessary floor plans and inconvenient floor plans” for modern lifestyles. This is a general trend that has been increasing in recent years, so it’s not necessarily a good one. I would be grateful if you could refer to it as one of the information.
the person who taught me
Mr. Rikudou is a first-class architect. Architect in charge of a design studio. In my daily work, I mainly design public and commercial structures. The motto for the accommodation is “It should be a space of relaxation where you can be yourself”.
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