Stilleness
Stilleness is a three-story guest house built on a very small plot in central Osaka, Japan. Living spaces are placed on the upper floors, while the ground floor holds a garage. Traditional Japanese features are reinterpreted through exterior tiles that resemble roof tiles, latticework and a central courtyard garden. A Goemon bath and an alcove are combined with modern facilities. The steel frame structure meets urban fire and earthquake requirements. The courtyard allows greenery to be seen from every floor, so the narrow site gains a sense of depth and calm.
Stilleness Guest House by Michihiro Matsuo was featured as an exceptional illustration of architectural design by the A' Design Award & Competition. Stilleness Guest House won the Bronze A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design in 2026. The A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award is an international, meritocratic, just and fair design accolade that celebrates outstanding design of skyscrapers, museums, residential buildings, commercial complexes, educational institutions, religious structures, infrastructure designs, landscaping projects and more.
