MOMIJI DWELLING

'Momiji Dwelling' is a miniature one-bedroom home that draws on aspects of Japanese architecture and design. These aspects are a limited but natural colour palette, balance between structure and nature, and utilisation of natural materials within the dwelling all of these contribute to a peaceful atmosphere that 'Japanese' design emanates. ‘Pocket Gardens: Contemporary Japanese Miniature Designs’ by Michael A. Freeman served as the catalyst for this project. I felt intrigue in the way foliage was dispersed, blended, and framed within the designs discussed throughout the text.

A key component of the design is the atrium at the centre of the main living room. The 'Bird of Paradise' plant was chosen because of its spectacular bright-orange flower and deep green foliage. To accompany these perennials is a collection of large mossy rockery, and Japanese-styled lanterns that illuminate the atrium in a soft warm light during evenings. The atrium features an internal doorway, and windows that open up into the miniature garden space allowing fresh air and natural ambience directly into the home.

Window walls on either-side of the dwelling coupled with roller blinds provides the dwelling's interior with natural light throughout all stages of the day. The plans, sections, and elevations show the slotted window between the offset of the ground floor and the raised area of the dwelling capturing light during the early hours of the day.

The design process was based on the research into phenomenological qualities, I documented five unique phenomena experiences through photography, illustration, and first-person written documentation; each aspect was vital to contributing to the overall experience. For example, when interacting with a free-flowing stream, I recorded patterns of refracted light dancing along the bed as I dipped my hands into the water.