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17 Sep

Steadily growing shared living lifestyle in Nagoya：【Nagoya Special Digest】

 Category: Share House Report, Nationwide, Tokai

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The attraction of Nagoya, a town brimming with historical spirit and people with great personality

During the Warring States period (1467-1568 CE) Aichi prefecture was divided into two provinces called Owari and Mikawa and three great feudal warlords - known widely even today as Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu - appeared one after the other and exerted great influence over the political situation of that time. In early modern times a great part of Japan was under the control of a band of warriors from Owari and Mikawa, and it is said that people from Aichi greatly contributed to the brilliant Japanese-style architecture and culture of the Edo period (1603-1868 CE).

I visited this historically rich town during August in the fiercely hot days before Obon, an annual Buddhist event, and called upon many different properties within a short timeframe.

While I have had many opportunities to go to Kansai, this was actually my first time to the Chubu region, having only seen Nagoya out of the window of a shinkansen train as we passed by.

Whenever I set foot in a new place I always think to myself that just as the ambiance and personality of each city changes from region to region, so does the way of living in that area. That is not to say that it is completely different. One can find universality anywhere he or she may go, and discovering what one area has in common with another is interesting in itself.

 

Today I am pleased to bring you a special digest on the steadily growing shared living lifestyle in Nagoya.

Let’s move right on to the houses!!

   
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Rental housing that values life and connections「ATELIER379」

「ATERIER379」is a newly constructed designer property to house anyone from single residents to families. At first glance it may look no different to a regular apartment building, however one special feature is its common area in which residents can get together and mingle.
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The common area. Here the residents can meet up together, throw parties and may even hold events open to the locals in future.

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The house hasn’t even opened yet and already a proposed drink menu for an event has been written on the wall.
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This is what the family-type room looks like. It is possible to do some DIY and change the area to suit your own style.

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A garden bathed in natural light seen from the window gives relaxation in your daily life.

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Studio rooms have daringly visible bathrooms! The see-through glass creates a spacious atmosphere.
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Vintage-style designer property handled by interior designer 「EREHWON Mizuho 1」

Next up is this designer sharehouse located a 5-minute walk from Sakurayama station on the Nagoya Municipal Subway Sakura-dori line. The ground floor of the building is home to a New York loft-style beauty parlor brimming with an exotic atmosphere not of Japan. The 3rd and 4th floor make up the sharehouse.
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Every piece of furniture has been carefully selected by the management team. I find it interesting that just one piece of furniture can drastically change the ambiance of a room.

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I was amazed by this claw-foot bathtub. One can enjoy the extraordinary while bathing with its gorgeous faucet.
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The chairs in the common room are all facing the same direction, giving the feeling of a movie theatre.

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Rooms are also fully furnished. One of the rooms has been fitted with a personal shower.

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Spacious rooms for one or two can be found on the 4th floor fully equipped with kitchen, bathroom and toilet.
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Enjoy relaxing freedom in the excellent shared common areas of 「Tomorrow House Ueda」

This is a female-only sharehouse sitting atop a slight hill. Although it has been 3 years since open, through the trial and error of the enquiring-minded management team the comfortability of the house continues to be improved and developed. The area around the local station is bustling with shops and facilities, making for a very livable environment perfect for sharehouse first-timers.
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The entrance. Being a female-only house, a security system has been put in place.

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A wooden deck has been built behind the property. Sunny days are apparently spent out here enjoying a BBQ among housemates.
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Warm lighting and decorative plants accent the living room and create a relaxed atmosphere.

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The stainless steel-type kitchen feels like one that would be used by a professional.

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Private rooms are conveniently arranged with excellent natural light.
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Stylish Undressed Concrete x Natural Raw Materials = 「D-FLAT5 Sharehouse Shiga-Hondori」

Decoon is a company managing 5 sharehouse properties in Nagoya. Decoon houses are a perfect blend of design and livability with natural, relaxed interiors and their trademark hammock. Their innovative houses are often featured in magazines and this is one place that I really wanted to have a look at personally.
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With 3 common areas to mingle in residents can choose a room depending on their mood or purpose at any time.

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The natural furniture matches well with the undressed concrete walls. According to management it is easy to concentrate on work or study at the desks against the wall.
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The counter in the kitchen is great for communication between housemates.

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There is even that beer keg you’ve always dreamed about… and I’m told that it’s really something else to use a keg in your own home.

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Room interiors differ from room to room, and there is even one with its own hammock.
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A workshop at home and individual rooms with hammocks at「D-FLAT1 Sharehouse Sakurayama」

Last but not least, this is another Decoon sharehouse with its own workshop. Open the window in the spacious stretch that is the loungeroom and a pleasant breeze will pass through the house, making the perfect environment for those who want to live somewhere where they can be their natural selves.
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The exterior is a wash of white color. As there is rarely anyone parked in the driveway it can also be used as part of the studio workshop.

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Anyone can freely use this workshop space to create in. Located right near the entrance you can immerse yourself in your work without bothering anyone around you.
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A wooden deck extends outside the house from which the greenery of the garden can be enjoyed.

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Decoon’s trademark hammock hangs in a private rooms supported by a sturdy beam.

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Sway from side to side in the hammock to get in a spot of reading, dozing off every now and then. How perfect does that sound?
 

In going to Nagoya I was able to come across many share properties bursting with their own individuality. What impressed me the most above all else was the enthusiasm of the people involved in these sharehouses to create the most comfortable environment intermixed with just the right amount of fun.

While interest in shared living is steadily increasing in metropolitan areas, it is only just beginning in more regional areas and I hope to do what I can to support its growth.

I also believe that sharehouses in regional areas can make a large contribution as an opportunity to step away from rigid human relations.

I would like to continue in my work spreading the word of this style of living as I visit sharehouses all over Japan in order to collect data.

I want to experience these houses not just from face-value but from the inside out, paying attention to the human relationships, natural features and culture of any one particular area. Please expect many more developments in this sense from me.

/Author:Kagawa