A house for a family of three located in a residential area of Tokyo.
The client requested that they needed no windows that must be kept closed in order to secure privacy but desired those that open only to a modest range to realize unconstrained comfortable space.
Therefore, the selection of openings became a big theme for this 58m2-sized site surrounded by residential houses. Consequently, we adopted a plan to make maximum use of openings on the south face and the roof for natural illumination, ventilation, and views and constructed a structure without openings on the north, east, or west faces that are surrounded by a frontal road and adjacent houses.
Along with this decision, we placed the house on the north side of the site in a shape stretching east to west.
The second floor consists of one room stretching east to west with a full of openings on the south face. The room can be divided freely with a sliding door that is retreatable into the wall.
The living room on the first floor is located a little higher than the ground level and has an atmosphere like a broad veranda as a whole. In the basement, the family can enjoy a home theater. A spiral staircase penetrating the center of these unique three layers gives a light sense of unity to the whole house.
Location : Tokyo, Japan
Use : Private House
Building Area : 22.87sqm
Total Floor Area : 64.42sqm
Structure and Scale : Timber structure, 2 stories above the ground and reinforced concrete structure, 1 underground story
Year : 2013
Architects : anotherAPARTMENT LTD.
Photographs : Koichi Torimura