1. Japan’s highly industrialized approach to full home decoration offers valuable lessons.
Japanese residential design emphasizes compactness and efficient use of space. The style is simple, bright, and warm, combining a clean appearance with thoughtful human-centered details. Behind seemingly ordinary elements lie countless experiments and improvements aimed at enhancing comfort and functionality.
The straightforward look is supported by rigorous technological research and development: components are installed with high precision, tight fitting, and industrialized manufacturing.
First Stop: Inspection at Yamato Institute
Daiwa House, Japan’s second largest home builder, was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Osaka. Their scope covers research and development, design, construction, and sales of industrial, residential, and commercial buildings, as well as large-scale commercial complexes, urban development, property management, and more.
With over 50 years of experience, Daiwa Construction has developed a comprehensive system covering R&D, construction, sales, maintenance, operation, management, renovation, regeneration, and utilization of completed residential properties. The company employs 14,106 people and operates 85 branch offices and 11 industrialized residential factories across Japan.
The Daiwa Institute of Comprehensive Technology upholds Daiwa’s philosophy of highly industrialized architecture and aims to develop a comprehensive life industry. It conducts a wide range of business activities and focuses on accumulating long-term experience and technology to meet higher demands.
During this inspection, the research institute showcased achievements in design, technology, and materials innovation.
█ Air Environment Display
Fresh air ventilation on the second floor is achieved by installing air vents on the staircase ceiling, approximately at the center of the home. Polluted indoor air is expelled through this exhaust port, while outdoor air enters after passing through a filter screen, which effectively removes 95% of allergens such as pollen.
█ Soundproofing System – Floor Soundproofing
The principle of sound insulation is to reduce friction noise between solids and airborne sound, thereby achieving effective soundproofing.
- Measure 1: Four-layer floor panel construction with double-layer resin boards for sound insulation.
- Measure 2: Special shock-absorbing rubber placed between steel structures to reduce sound and vibration.
- Measure 3: A suspended shock-absorbing metal device between the floor structure and lower floor slab minimizes friction sounds transmitted to the ceiling.
- Measure 4: Sound-absorbing material (asbestos) inside the ceiling absorbs airborne sound propagation.
█ Sound Insulation for Sewer Pipes
Drainage pipes are wrapped with soundproof material composed of sound-absorbing and soundproof layers, significantly reducing noise from drainage starting from the second floor. When adjacent to the living room, additional sound-absorbing materials are installed inside the wall’s water pipe space to further suppress drainage noise.
The research institute demonstrated this with experimental equipment: pipes lined with soundproof cotton exhibited subtle internal friction sounds compared to ordinary pipes, which produced more noticeable noise when shaken.
█ Public Staircase Sound Insulation
The public staircase treads in Daiwa houses are covered with rubber on steel foundations, reducing vibration transmission and effectively lowering external noise penetration. Ordinary steel staircases, by contrast, conduct sound easily into interiors.
█ Wall and Floor Soundproofing
The partition between the toilet and living room is filled with glass wool, with double-layer gypsum board applied on one side to improve insulation. Glass wool also addresses echo issues caused by gaps between cement floors and floorboards, significantly reducing footstep noise in prefabricated structures.
█ External Wall Insulation System
Daiwa House’s external insulation employs a thick glass fiber board outside the structure, covered by compressed high-density glass fiber boards. A ventilation gap between insulation and external wall bricks enhances insulation, water resistance, and prevents condensation more effectively than conventional methods.
█ Door and Window Insulation
On the indoor side, low-emissivity (low-E) glass is used, offering slow heat dissipation and insulation performance three times that of single-pane glass and 1.5 times that of double-pane glass.
█ User-Friendly Design
The bathroom features an integrated weight meter and a toilet equipped with a urine collector to monitor various health indicators. Data is instantly displayed on a system panel and communicated with the home computer, with all results recorded for future reference.
The entrance cabinet from Dahe serves both as shoe storage and includes a pull-out shoe bench, facilitating shoe changes without compromising aesthetics. The bench’s guide rail supports up to 100kg, accommodating an average adult’s weight.
The mobile door incorporates a buffering function to prevent finger pinching, especially for children. A speed limiter slows the door during the last 30mm of closing to avoid accidents.
Tatami mats are arranged in three equal-sized sections with accessible storage spaces underneath, balancing aesthetics and practicality.
Door handle heights are designed to accommodate both children and adults, with sliding doors featuring full-length concealed handles for easy operation by family members of all heights.
Doors have hardware edging near the floor to prevent foot pinching, and curved aluminum alloy edges on hinge sides protect children’s hands.
From indoors to the balcony, a detachable waterproof strip at the threshold enhances air and water tightness, preventing rainwater from entering the room.
The pictured mobile door operates uniquely — moving one panel causes the other to open or close in coordination, enabling hands-free operation for busy homeowners.
Yamato staircases use indirect lighting, with LED tubes hidden beneath steps and wall handrails. The light reflects softly, making narrow corridors feel warm and inviting.
█ Osaka Model House
The second stop was the Higashidogawa Otsutake Collection Residence in Osaka’s Higashidogawa district, an 11-minute walk from the nearest subway station. The complex includes 688 units, with 15 unsold at the time of visit. The model house visited was in Building E, measuring 76 square meters with three bedrooms, two living rooms, and one bathroom.
█ Model House Layout
The model house features a fresh and elegant style with minimal hard decoration colors, mainly natural wood and white tones. Compared to the dense stacking common in China, the soft decoration focuses on creating a comfortable living atmosphere, which can enhance customer appeal.
Due to their compact size and dietary habits, most Japanese homes use open kitchen designs with two high counter tables serving also as bar counters.
█ Design Analysis of Model House Areas
Entrance shoe cabinets typically are elevated off the ground to allow indirect lighting underneath and provide space for temporarily placed shoes without blocking aisles.
Internal cabinet shelves are adjustable to accommodate different shoe heights. Grooves prevent shelves from slipping, reflecting thoughtful design.
Japanese bathrooms often include a shower and separate bath, using factory-finished wall equipment with integrated installation. Mirrors are designed as anti-fog.
Anti-slip pads are cleverly stored at the bathtub’s foot and used during showers.
Ventilation fans combine exhaust, ventilation, dehumidification, and drying functions.
A clothes hanger above the bathtub facilitates drying on rainy days, assisted by the multifunction drying machine.
Bathroom floor drains are designed to:
- 1. Block common clogging areas
- 2. Be easy to remove and clean
- 3. Have covers matching floor material to maintain aesthetics
Limited space leads to toilets with sinks integrated on the rear water tank and small hanging cabinets above to maximize storage.
Kitchen wall closures using aluminum alloy strips improve aesthetics by neatly finishing wallpaper and tiles.
The kitchen sink is installed under the counter for comfort and minimal seams. A filter screen on one side holds washed vegetables for draining.
Washrooms include storage cabinets for bedding during the day.
The living room and dining room are separated by a 90-degree sliding door, allowing flexible space division.
Secondary bedrooms simulate a family with one son and one daughter; furnishings are simple but include thoughtful storage like weak current boxes inside wardrobes and hooks to maximize space.
Compared to domestic door frames, Japanese door frames are narrower but proportioned to appear refined rather than simple.
Sliding doors have upper notches that tightly integrate the door leaf with the upper track, improving sound insulation and reducing gaps. Metal tracks are installed at the bottom for stability.
Children’s room doors include door closers to prevent rapid closing and potential injuries.
Second Stop: Inspection at Panasonic Home Research Institute
Panasonic Home Experience Center, similar to IKEA in China but targeting the Japanese middle class, offers one-stop design, production, and implementation of various indoor systems.
The kitchen design is modern, with strong lines and a tough aesthetic.
Integrated artificial stone countertops and polymer resin sinks maintain cabinet integrity and prevent hygiene issues caused by gaps.
The induction cooktop is flush with the countertop, providing a spacious work surface. The control panel is hidden beneath the table to maximize workspace.
█ Kitchen System
The range hood features a detachable rectifier panel allowing smoke capture from all sides, simplifying cleaning.
█ Kitchen Storage System
The lower cabinet includes a thin drawer for tall cookware, and a designated pull-out board for small appliances like microwaves, rice cookers, juicers, and kettles. This board allows steam extraction during use.
█ Toilet Storage System
Side storage near the washbasin caters to user habits by holding books, magazines, and cloths for convenience.
Toilet paper is embedded within the washbasin cabinet, and a concealed trash bin under shelves maintains both function and aesthetics.
Panasonic optimizes the typically challenging sink base space by separating downspouts and valves, allowing storage of common items and including a rack behind the door panel for additional use.
█ Washroom Storage System
Upper and lower drawers store items by frequency of use: upper drawers hold frequently used personal items, while lower drawers store cleaning supplies.
█ Bathroom Storage System
Installed shelves within reach store shampoo, body wash, and other bathing essentials.
Seated showers accommodate elderly and children comfortably.
█ Dressing Table Storage System
Panasonic’s “small space, big utilization” philosophy is evident in the dressing table design, which includes a roller slide stool that integrates with the cabinet when not in use. The stool’s leather pad opens to reveal additional storage space, maximizing utility.
█ Laundry Room Storage System
- Storage Cabinet 1: Ceiling-level hanging cabinets hold infrequently used items.
- Storage Cabinet 2: Mid-level shelves with hardware components serve for common items and include pull-out horizontal bars for temporary clothing hanging.
Japanese laundry and washbasin areas are often combined, with ample storage in both mirror and lower cabinets.
A dryer is positioned next to a folding clothes rack, with an adjustable rack installed overhead that folds up when not in use to save space.
█ Clothing and Hat Room Storage System
Japanese wardrobes include diverse hardware accessories tailored to accommodate items of various sizes.
█ Entrance Storage System
The foyer cabinet design suits a space of around 5 square meters, optimized for storage and accessibility.
█ Storage System Summary
- High storage (1700-2400mm): For infrequently used items such as tools and luggage.
- Mid storage (850-1700mm): For hanging long and short clothes, shelves, and bags.
- Low storage (below 850mm): For larger, bulkier objects like children’s skateboards.
█ Lighting System
Indoor lighting in Japan is designed to be very comfortable, predominantly using LED light sources. LEDs offer long lifespan and low energy consumption — only about one-sixth the power of traditional incandescent lamps is needed to achieve the same illumination.
Most lighting is indirect, with multi-level combinations meeting different scene requirements. Typical lighting modes include:
- Dining Area
- Bedroom Area:
- ① Normal lighting (full illumination)
- ② Night mode (night light on)
- ③ Morning wake-up mode (soft light)
- ④ Easy mode (wall-mounted partial lighting)
All modes are controlled via an intelligent panel.
Japanese indoor lighting generally consists of four levels:
- ① Living room coffee table: main light or spotlight; ceiling area: side-mounted light strip.
- ② Dining table: main light or spotlight.
- ③ Wall lighting: halo effects from spotlights, wall lamps, floor lamps, and ceiling light strips reflecting on walls.
- ④ Low-level lighting: downward-facing spotlights, floor lights, and reflective lights on layered boards.
Conclusion
Japanese residential decoration is marked by compact and efficient space utilization. The style is simple, bright, and warm, with a clean appearance and deep human-centered care. Designs embody a humanized philosophy, with hundreds of experiments underpinning seemingly ordinary details.
The simple aesthetics are backed by powerful technological R&D, ensuring component installations are precise, tightly fitted, and highly industrialized.
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