Project Name: HOUSE X - Universal Design Residence with an Outdoor Bath

Location: Beijing, China

Design Team: TSUTSUMI & ASSOCIATES

Area: 235 m²

Completion: May 2024

Photography: Misae Hiromatsu / Ruijing Photo

Feature：

Project - Japanese architecture firm TSUTSUMI & ASSOCIATES has completed HOUSE X, a thoughtfully renovated ground-floor apartment in Beijing that reimagines barrier-free design through the lens of natural light and ventilation. The 235-square-meter residence challenges conventional approaches to accessible living spaces by treating sunlight and airflow as fundamental aspects of universal design.

The project, which was completed in May 2024, transforms a previously dark apartment with European mansion-inspired level changes into a luminous, fluid space that seamlessly accommodates three generations. The renovation was commissioned by a client in his 50s who lives with his elderly parents, prompting architect Yoshimasa Tsutsumi to develop an innovative approach to accessibility that goes beyond standard solutions.

"We believe that healthy light and pleasant breezes moving freely within the home represent the ultimate form of barrier-free design," explains Tsutsumi. This philosophy manifests in practical interventions, such as raising the living room floor by 30 centimeters to create a unified level throughout the main living spaces, while cleverly incorporating a sunken seating area that doubles as a coffee space.

The most striking feature is perhaps the Japanese-inspired outdoor bath, connected to the main bedroom's bathroom via a wooden corridor. The bathing area demonstrates the studio's nuanced approach to privacy and openness – its lower section remains open while wooden sliding doors enclose the space from waist height. Angled louvers in the roof structure shield from overlooking views while maintaining a sense of connection with the sky.

Throughout the apartment, conventional accessibility elements are reimagined with architectural sophistication. Handrails double as lighting fixtures, avoiding the institutional aesthetic often associated with assisted living spaces. Sliding doors are designed to accommodate wheelchair access, while a walk-through toilet anticipates future caregiving needs without compromising on design integrity.

The firm's emphasis on natural light and ventilation responds directly to what they identify as a common problem in Chinese residential developments – the tendency to prioritize floor area at the expense of environmental quality. By positioning all bathrooms along exterior walls and incorporating numerous sliding doors, the design ensures that daylight penetrates deep into the living spaces while facilitating cross-ventilation.

This holistic approach to universal design, where accessibility meets atmospheric quality, represents a significant departure from conventional barrier-free architecture, offering a new paradigm for multi-generational living spaces in urban China.

Design Team - Founded in 2009 in Beijing by Yoshimasa Tsutsumi (born 1978 in Fukuoka), TSUTSUMI & ASSOCIATES has evolved into a distinguished international architectural practice with offices in both Tokyo and Beijing. The practice, officially registered as a First-Class Architectural Firm (Tokyo Governor Registration No. 65108), represents a unique bridge between Japanese architectural precision and contemporary Chinese urban development.

Tsutsumi, who graduated from the University of Tokyo's Department of Architecture in 2003, refined his expertise at SAKO Architects (2004-2008) before establishing his own practice. The firm's trajectory has been marked by strategic expansion, with the opening of a Hiroshima office in 2020 and relocation to Tokyo in 2022.

The studio's portfolio has garnered international recognition through numerous prestigious awards, including the JCD Design Award Gold and Silver Medals and the Ryue Nishizawa Prize in Japan, the DFA Award Silver Prize in Hong Kong, and distinctions from global competitions such as The Architecture MasterPrize (USA) and A' Design Award Silver Prize (Italy). Their work is characterized by a sophisticated integration of spatial efficiency, cultural sensitivity, and innovative barrier-free solutions, particularly evident in residential and commercial projects across Asia.

Operating from two strategic locations - their Tokyo headquarters in Itabashi and their Beijing office in Chaoyang District - TSUTSUMI & ASSOCIATES continues to expand its influence in the global architectural landscape, specializing in context-responsive design solutions that bridge Eastern and Western architectural paradigms.