It's been over a year since the novel coronavirus began forcing lockdowns on societies across the globe. During this time, people's lifestyles have changed significantly. For example, many people are restricted from traveling while others have fewer opportunities to find work. In many cases, people have moved most of their lives into their living rooms as they remain teleworking from home.

According to a questionaire conducted by Biz Hits Co., Ltd., the living room is the number one place for individuals to do remote work. Interestingly, some respondents even claimed they used their children's room as a workspace. It's hard to see the advantages of using these rooms over having a dedicated workspace. But in space-poor Japan, only 24.6% of the respondents replied that they had managed to organize a dedicated workspace.

Acknowledging that there may be something of a new normal at home, JIBUN HAUS. Co., Ltd. recently announced a novel three-story house that they are calling "THREE.” The name and architecture reflect the theme of "living, working, and traveling," all from the comfort of your own home. Naturally, this novel design concept takes inspiration from the conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption to homeowners' normal lives.

Thematic layout

The first floor of the novel house type is intended to be a Japanese-style room for work. Naturally, there is an entrance at the back of the garaged parking area. The entrance opens into a small space on the left side. The room is quaint and plain in design, and it is intended to remind homeowners of a tea room.

On the first floor, the tea room is tucked away from the more active areas on the second and third floors. As such, the space provides users a quiet place to concentrate as they continue teleworking during the COVID-19 pandemic. Outside of business hours, the tea room can be used to entertain guests.

Moreover, a courtyard is visible from the room. The outdoor space, which is meant to provide a relaxing view as a homeowner lounge, is also visible from the third floor. Even though residents are stuck at home, the scene is reminiscent of classy hot spring hotels. In that way, individuals can almost feel as though they've gotten "a weekend away" while they work or lounge despite not leaving the comfort of their own home.

The second floor of the novel house design centers around relaxing and connecting with family members. There, a cozy living room and dining kitchen create a comfortable atmosphere perfect for family time together. A horizontally long counter is installed in the corridor connecting the two rooms, which faces the courtyard. The effect is meant to be reminiscent of a chic urban cafe. The space is suitable for working on the computer or for school children to use as an impromptu study space. As such, busy parents can keep an eye on studious children as they complete their studies.

The third floor

The third floor is meant to provide solace and a space to unwind. As such, it is dramatically different from the busier lower levels that revolve around working and interacting. The floor is somewhat hotel-like in the sense that everything is taken care of, and family members can take some time to slow down. It also offers privacy, something that can be rare in a busy household.

While the design of the “THREE” house is clearly innovative, the most distinct feature is the bathroom. Since this bathroom faces the courtyard, the bath is situated to allow the soaker to look out over the courtyard or enjoy the night sky. Once finished, bathers can transition seamlessly to the bedroom. Having such a relaxing amenity in one's own home is definitely a luxury usually only found at hot spring hotels in Japan.

All in all, the house lives up to the theme of "living, working, and traveling" while staying at home. "THREE" went on sale this year on April 21st. For those feeling the pressures of the pandemic and looking for a better way to organize their lives, why not check out the novel design. Who knows, it may be standard in the not too distant future. Interested readers can find more information on the website of JIBUN HAUS.