Takanawa House / Hiroyuki Ito + O.F.D.A.

Architects:HIROYUKI ITO ARCHITECTS ASSOCIATES + O.F.D.A.
Location:Minato-ku,Tokyo,Japan
Year:2011
Site Area:161.50sqm
Building Area丗95.15sqm
Total Floor Area丗229.49sqm
Photographs:Daici Ano

This three-story house is located in an elevated residential area in Tokyo.
The facade contains minimal openings, in order to have
relevant relations with
neighbors in this area.

 

 

The house consists of two boxes which each contains several white painted spaces of
various proportion including exterior courtyards. Courtyards are placed on the opposite
side to each other, so the residents can receive various kinds of natural light throughout
the home all day.

Glazed staircase is between the two boxes. In contrast to the plain white walls inside
the boxes, outside walls have rough-hewn texture of the exposed timber-shuttered
concrete.

The staircase landings that connect the boxes are actually bridged by concrete
cantilevering floors, which barely touch. The same gap in the roof forms a thin skylight
permitting a sliver of sunlight to help illuminate the circulation space below.

This building of simple form provides complex experience with relativization of interior
and exterior.