A Study on the Surface Design of Contemporary Japanese Houses With Simple Shape

This study investigates the surface design of contemporary Japanese houses with simple shape, focusing on compositional and material aspects. Drawing on 239 works published in Shinkenchiku and Shinkenchiku Jutaku Tokushu, it classifies exterior and opening layouts (“surface composition”) and examines material expressions in terms of homogeneity and transparency (“surface character”). Comparison reveals chronological tendencies: since the 2000s, building forms and surface compositions have tended toward simplification, while surface characters have diversified with textured and irregular materials. These overlapping trends of simplification and diversification illustrate the evolving strategies of architects in shaping the surfaces of contemporary Japanese houses with simple shape.