This small private residence is situated within a densely populated urban neighborhood. Encircled by buildings on all sides like a valley, the client envisioned a home that provides a peaceful and fulfilling atmosphere both inside and out.
Reflecting on the deep and refined indoor-outdoor connections found in Japanese cultural heritage, the Guili Palace immediately comes to mind. The design of this compact home began with my personal exploration of the Guili Palace.
By studying the indoor-outdoor relationship as a foundational concept in the Guili Palace, I rediscovered various design elements that evoke comfort and harmony. I then applied these principles to this small house, which also occupies a compact urban “valley” but features a generous garden.
My idea was to dissect the Guili Palace floor plan and rotate it into a circular form. This concept aims to digitally (via BIM design) fold the spatial relationship between indoor and outdoor areas, creating a compressed, yet dynamic perspective.
▲ Conceptual analysis
This process gave rise to a new architectural form: a shallow, corridor-like space that interconnects and enhances the indoor-outdoor experience. This space extends in a circular, three-dimensional loop. If this project can demonstrate fresh possibilities for urban housing development in Japan—rooted in unique and rich indoor-outdoor relationships—I would consider it a success.
Project Drawings
▲ Plan View
▲ Elevation View
▲ Sectional View
▲ Detailed Drawing
Project Information
Architectural Firm: Tomohiro Hata Architect and Associates
Location: Japan
Category: Independent Residential Building
Lead Architect: Tomohiro Hata
Building Area: 159.0 m²
Year of Completion: 2018
Photographer: Toshiyuki Yano
Must log in before commenting!
Sign Up