Nagi, meaning "calm of the sea," is a renovated sanctuary for a young couple and their child, nestled within a 30-year-old apartment complex. The space underwent a complete transformation, introducing new materials and forms to the existing structure. A serene ambiance pervades the home, set by the use of 70% diluted white paint that evokes a sense of calm and lightness.

A defining feature of Nagi is a series of curving steel pipes suspended from the floor—seemingly unsupported by the ceiling—creating an illusionary partition that gently delineates the space. Reminiscent of monorail tracks weaving through an urban landscape, these sinuous elements introduce movement and flow into the interior.

Elegantly hanging from these rails are custom velvet curtains, printed with geometric patterns created through a unique process of melting rayon into the fabric. These curtains provide visual privacy while allowing light to filter through, casting soft, shifting patterns across the room and contributing to the ethereal atmosphere.

Designed with flexibility in mind, the curtains can be partially replaced in the future, offering the family opportunities to display art or photography as their needs and lives evolve. The railings—symbolic of continuity—remain unchanged, serving as a metaphorical backbone that supports the family’s journey through change.

Nagi embodies a thoughtful fusion of aesthetic innovation and practical adaptability, creating a timeless living space attuned to the quiet rhythms of domestic life.

Title: Nagi
Location: Kanagawa, Japan
Use: Residential
Size: 74.00 sqm
Number of Stories: 1
Structure: RC
Completed: 2009
Photographer: Daici Ano