Evaluation of Proposal 1 (postings below )

Too not Japanese
First and major comment on the architecture of Proposal 1 is that the image is really very Dutch. And for this case too Dutch. Not that there might be something wrong with this Ducthness, it is more that it is too much not Japanese. Its location is in a common Tokyo residential area and the Dutch image might stand out too much. It might offend the neighbours.

Dutch friends suggested that in a neighbourhood it is good to have a landmark for orientation. And why not be the owner of that landmark?

In the Netherlands we would appreciate that being a landmark and not mind too much about the neighbours. Also living next to a landmark is often considered an added value. Part of the building permit application procedure is a check by a governmental architects committee (Welstandscommissie). They decide on whether it fits with the surrounding architecture.

In Japan an architectural check is not part of the permit procedure. There is little governmental policy on architecture. Principals are very prudent and avoiding any chance of offending anyone is the common practise.


Too flat volume
The second comment is that the design is 'too flat'. This is about the volume of the building. In Japanese architecture houses are a composition of volumes playing with the relation between the interior and the outside world. Houses are mostly detached. Buildings do not contribute to the streetscape (see posting on Dutch architecture below). Thus Japanese taste says that Dutch street façades are too flat. Dutch taste says Japanese street façades are messy.


Good layouts
Third comment is on the floor plans. The principal appreciates the efficiency of the layout and the practical and spacious design.

In Japan it is common to have the bathroom on the ground floor. In the Netherlands we would combine the bathroom and the bedrooms on one floor. It is considered the more private section of our homes. Visitors and friends are invited in the living room and everything on ground floor. In general the ground floor is the more public section whereas the upper floors are more private.

The bathroom in the basement might be left out. The architect recommends to at least make provisions for a future bathroom.

Entrances and accesibility
The fourth comment is on the stairs at the entrance. As the principal will share the house with his parents who are retired, a level entrance might be preferable. The half level raising of the ground floor is introduced in the design to allow a basement car park and a full size ground floor at the same time. The two independent entrances for the main house and the basement flat are a spin off.


Conclusion

The principal will conisder the stairs at the entrance issue.

The architect will work on the architectural design looking for a combined Japanese Dutch outlook.