The diagram compares the designs of an old and a new double-storey house in Japan.
Overall, there are several major differences between the two pictures. The most noticeable feature is that in traditional Japanese houses, two storeys are designed quite similarly, while modern houses are distributed diversely, which helps to meet residents’ needs more effectively.
As can be seen from the plans, there are some similarities between the two house styles downstairs. Stairs are located in the east of the house, opposite the main entrance, as well as a bedroom with tatami and an unfolded futon, and is separated from a space containing a futon by a sliding door. Traditional housing designs differ significantly from modern ones. The bathroom in the ancient house is located on the left-hand side of the main door and next to the kitchen. Meanwhile, in a modern house, the kitchen and living room create a room that makes the atmosphere look more spacious, but there is no bathroom.
Turning to the other features on the upstairs, the corridor in the modern design is larger, which helps save space in order to build more rooms. The traditional style has two bedrooms designed the same as those downstairs, but there is one room that is quite bigger. The new house design changes considerably with the old one, with two small bedrooms and a shared bathroom, faced with the stairs. Notably, there is a main bedroom with a private bathroom.