Japanese ‘deathtrap’ house raises questions about western building codes

A minimalist-style home in Kobe, Japan eschews some elements such as handrails that are required in western building codes.

This is an example of a “deathtrap” house that raises philosophical questions about common code elements. The client follows a belief that if every possibility of danger is eliminated from one’s surroundings, this reduces people’s ability to know how to overcome the smallest risk.