Cool City Homes - Tokyo Sky Court House

We love contemporary Japanese architecture, and here's a cool city home that focuses as much on what's overhead as what's all around. The Sky Court House designed by modern Japanese architects Keiji Ashizawa Design is a renovated home - a rarity in Japan in and of itself. This urban house plan has an unusual connection to the city and the sunlight via a rooftop sky court (hence its name!) and many windows, which flood interiors with natural light at every level.

Turning the traditional floor plan on its head, this home puts private areas - a family room, bathroom and bedrooms opening onto a private Japanese garden - on the main floor. Upstairs, the kitchen, living and dining rooms offer endless views of Tokyo's skyline. But the best view is further up still. A roof top loft was added to the existing structure, opening onto a deck overlooking the surrounding city. Check out more modern Japanese houses by visiting Keiji Ashizawa Design.