The Edible House: When Your Home Grows Alongside Your Garden
The nLDK 'Edible House' that grows alongside its vegetable garden in Nara, Japan.
Imagine a home that’s as alive and vibrant as the garden surrounding it. That’s the essence of the "Edible House," a remarkable architectural feat designed by NLDK architects in Japan. This project offers more than just a place to live—it's a dynamic space that thrives in harmony with nature, where home and garden grow together, and the design focuses on the concept of ‘food-and-life unity’.
The house itself is built around a concept of self-sufficiency and sustainability, with a vegetable garden that is not just an accessory but an integral part of the design. The garden wraps around the house, blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors. In this space, vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees aren’t just grown—they become part of daily life, harvested just steps from the kitchen. It’s a unique vision where the design of the home and the landscape are fully integrated, each supporting and enhancing the other.
Large sliding doors allow occupants to be in close contact with the garden at all times.
The Edible House isn’t just about aesthetics or convenience. It’s a direct response to modern-day challenges—urban sprawl, limited green spaces, and a growing disconnect between people and the food they consume. By creating a home that grows its own food, NLDK is making a statement about sustainability and the need to rethink how living spaces function. In a time when many urban dwellers only see food as something bought from a store, this home invites a deeper connection to what’s on the plate.
The clients were looking for a small house with a large kitchen garden where they could grow their own vegetables.
What makes this design even more compelling is the use of traditional building materials that complement the modern design. The natural wooden structure stands in stark contrast to the vibrant greenery surrounding it, making it feel as though the house has grown from the earth itself. Large windows allow sunlight to flood the home, nurturing both the plants and the people inside, and providing a visual connection to the surrounding edible landscape.
The garden itself is filled with a mix of seasonal vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees that are harvested regularly, ensuring fresh, organic food all year round. Raised beds, trellises, and climbing plants are strategically placed to maximize space and efficiency, while also adding to the home’s charm. It’s not a sprawling farm but a modest, thoughtful garden designed for real life, where practicality meets beauty.
The design focuses on the concept of ‘food-and-life unity’.
The Edible House concept is more than just a novelty—it’s part of a growing movement toward sustainable living and design. It offers a blueprint for rethinking residential spaces in a way that fosters a closer relationship with nature and a more self-sufficient lifestyle. In many ways, this home isn’t just a residence; it’s a living, breathing ecosystem where the act of growing food becomes as natural as opening a window.
The architects set the house on the north of the plot, ensuring that the vegetable garden receives ample sunlight.
This kind of innovation opens up exciting possibilities for future urban living, where green spaces and edible landscapes are no longer afterthoughts but key components of design. Imagine cities filled with homes like this—where rooftops, balconies, and courtyards grow food, contributing to healthier diets, local ecosystems, and a deeper sense of community. The Edible House is a glimpse into that future.
(All photos taken from Dezeen.)