Modern Home Designed From a Cat’s Perspective

Positioned within the historic and plush metropolis of Kamakura, simply an hour outdoors of Tokyo, stands a reasonably distinctive home, named A Cat Tree Home. It’s a feline paradise designed for a pair of their thirties and their two beloved cats. Architect Tan Yamanouchi of AWGL has redefined what it means to design a house by taking inspiration from the purchasers, the four-legged sort, who don’t communicate human language. For the reason that couple has lived with the 2 cats for ten years, the architects checked out them as extra than simply pets, as an alternative as purchasers that had their very own wants.

The cats had three major requests. First, they wished the liberty to decide on their preferrred temperature at any given second. Cats are identified for his or her sensitivity to temperature variations, and so they love to maneuver round to seek out the right spot. Second, they wished to be near their human relations however not too shut, as they love their independence. Lastly, they desired a large number of secure areas to retreat to, adapting because the seasons change.

With these feline necessities in thoughts, the architects got here up with an ingenious thought: to design the home as a large cat tree. The whole home is conceived as a big staircase, with an atrium at its middle that’s lit by a skylight. Pure mild filters by way of, making a play of shadows on every step all through the day. These steps, impressed by the physique measurements of the cats, end in a complete of 23 totally different flooring ranges. The whole home is split into temperature layers, every offering a singular atmosphere for the cats to discover.

The spiral staircase is a cantilever design, harking back to the tamasudare, a loosely woven bamboo display utilized in conventional Japanese road performances. It not solely serves as a practical design ingredient but in addition provides an inventive contact to the house. It additionally helps management humidity within the humid Kamakura atmosphere.

Every nook of the spiraling construction homes totally different rooms for the couple and supplies snug spots for the cats to calm down. These rooms additionally function hiding locations when surprising friends arrive, making the home as practical for the felines as it’s for its human occupants. The spiral staircase even doubles as a split-level library, with bookshelves hanging from the wall. It’s a haven for the cats to lounge and for people to take pleasure in an excellent learn.

Home windows are strategically positioned all through permitting the cats to benefit from the outdoors view, whereas concurrently offering lovely cat sitings from these passing by within the neighborhood.

In Japan, pets, particularly cats, maintain a particular place in folks’s hearts. With ten occasions extra pet cats than new child infants, it’s clear that feline buddies are beloved companions. Japan’s ageing inhabitants has additionally sparked an elevated curiosity in animal remedy, making houses that think about pets’ wants all of the extra related.

Images by Lamberto Rubino.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in images from SCAD and might often be discovered looking for classic wares, doing New York Instances crossword puzzles in pen, or transforming playlists on Spotify.