Japanese architects are known, the world over, for their ingenious and incredibly innovative designs. Previously, we talked about a number of skinny home designs that optimize the limited available space, without compromising on comfort and convenience. Built by local architectural firm Starpilots, Housecut is the residence-cum-office of a Tokyo-based family. As its name suggests, this intelligently-designed structure can be shrunk to one-third of its size, in the likely event of a road expansion project.

The building is made up of three adjoining structures that are inter-connected into a home. Each of these parts contains a pitched roof as well as several windows scattered irregularly across its area. The opaque, shingle-clad exterior of the peripheral sections creates a subtle, yet noteworthy, contrast with the brilliantly transparent facade of the central piece. The highly-inventive design, featuring enormous floor-to-ceiling glass doors, numerous windows, high ceilings and warm white walls, help maximize the availability of natural light, creating a sense of spaciousness.

Constructed on a corner plot, with roads bordering two of its sides, part of the dwelling could soon be knocked off to make room for new streets. The owners, who have been running a funeral company at the same place for quite some time now, wanted a house that could serve its purpose even when shrunk to one-third of its present size. They said:

We want to keep running our company at this place even if we have to give up 2/3 of the building. Even if we could have only a reception desk space, we want to run our business here as we have been doing.

Via: Inhabitat