Ukigumo Floating Clouds Residence by Ukei Shimada in Tokyo

Japanese architect Ukei Shimada has designed his own house, named Ukigumo (Floating Clouds), located in the Suginami district of Tokyo. The project, completed in 2025, covers an area of 112 square meters and was curated by Miwa Negoro. The design responds to the dense residential context, where the architect noticed an open sky between surrounding houses, with clouds floating above, inspiring the name. The residence is a single-family house, categorized under 'Casas' (Houses). The main architect is Ukei Shimada, with structural and civil engineering by Ladderup Architects, MEP and HVAC consulting by ZO Consulting Engineers, general contracting by Miyashima Koumuten Co., Ltd, and landscaping by Weru Landscape. Photographs were taken by Koji Fujii / TOREAL. The project features suppliers including Bosch, Delta Faucet, Koizumi Lighting Co., LIXIL, and Zucchetti. The description, provided by the project team, reflects on the challenge of creating a nuanced dwelling in a typical high-density Japanese residential area. The house's design emphasizes the relationship with the sky and natural light, aiming to enrich the living experience within a compact urban plot.