Blank walls control the view of the house in Kyobate by FujiwaraMuro Architects

Sleek openings and silver wallpaper reflect light inside this minimalist home in Japan, which local studio FujiwaraMuro Architects designed “to block noise and views from outside.”

Named “House in Kyobate” after the suburb near Osaka in which it is located, the family home sits on a corner plot bordered by streets.

To prevent neighboring buildings from being overlooked and to minimize noise from a nearby railway, Osaka-based architects FujiwaraMuro Architects designed the house as a “closed volume” surrounded by blank black and gray walls and frosted glass.

Between these exterior walls and the central living areas are spaces to allow air circulation, while the double-height corridors and stairwell are lined with silver wallpaper to reflect light.

“As the corner plot was close to a busy road and railway line, the clients wanted to block noise and views from outside while allowing light and air into the house,” FujiwaraMuro Architects told Dezeen.

The house in Kyobate is spread over two floors, with the bedrooms and bathroom on the ground floor and a large living, dining and kitchen area above.

The kitchen counters and pantry are located at the western end of the open plan space, while a raised floor area with storage below separates a lower work area from the living area above.

“The living, dining and kitchen area on the [first] “The main floor features a high ceiling with tiered floors, creating a single space while shifting sightlines so each family member can comfortably spend time together,” the studio explained.

While some of House in Kyobate’s frosted windows offer views outside, others look out onto the silver interior walls, creating a lightbox-like effect.

A large opening overlooks the staircase and is lined with a slim white metal balustrade, allowing more light into the living area and preventing circulation spaces from feeling too cramped.

“Although the project’s area was limited, the project was intended to make residents feel as if the house was larger than it is,” the studio said.

“The windows, which do not face directly outside, reflect the atmosphere and landscape from outside into the interior, creating a home that maintains privacy without feeling claustrophobic,” it continues.

FujiwaraMuro Architects was founded in Osaka in 2002 by architects Shintaro Fujiwara and Yoshio Muro.

Other recently completed residential projects include a blocky concrete house in Tsurumi-ku and a dark, wood-clad house with a zigzag floor plan in Fujidera.

It is not uncommon for houses in Japan to be surrounded by bare walls to provide their owners with complete seclusion. Other examples include Chop + Archi’s Kamiuma House and TakaTin’s Black Box, which feature in our roundup of ten bunker-like houses in Japan that offer complete privacy.

Photography is by Hirofumi Imanishi/Atelier One.