Tokyo-based architectural firm DOG designed a studio-style residence called “8.5 Residence” for a painter and his family in the small Japanese town of Ninomiya. The home features a steeply sloped roof that seamlessly integrates with the walls, giving the building a sculptural and distinctive appearance. Inside, a diagonal display wall defines the space, showcasing the artist’s work at its full length. The interplay between these two elements creates a dynamic, three-dimensional experience of alternating “wide/narrow” and “high/low” volumes.
The 87.23 square meter residence, designed and constructed by DOG, is situated along Tokaido Road in Ninomiya, a town historically walked and painted by the renowned Japanese ukiyo-e artist Hiroshige. As a home for three generations—the painter, his wife, their child, and the painter’s mother—the residence is divided by the prominent display wall which separates living and working areas. This wall runs diagonally across the site, maximizing its length and offering an ideal space for exhibiting artworks. A tall glass entrance invites passersby to glimpse the studio’s interior.
The project’s concept centers on establishing a studio in Ninomiya, located between Oiso (the Eighth Postal Town) and Odawara (the Ninth Postal Town). This location allows the owner to connect with the historic 53 stations along the Tokaido Road. The architectural firm explains that the design pays homage to the ukiyo-e woodblock print series depicting these 53 stations.
The steeply sloped roof doubles as the northern wall, forming a striking sculptural element within the urban landscape. It provides inspiration for the painter while creating an elegant home environment for the family. The intersection of the sloping roof and diagonal exhibition wall generates a layered, three-dimensional space with shifting widths and heights, playing with scale throughout the residence.
Design Drawings
△ Plan View
△ Sectional Perspective View
Project Information:
Project Name: 8.5 Residential
Architectural Firm: DOG
Lead Architects: Ryutaro Saito and Shun Ide * Nikken Housing System
Location: Ninomiya, Naka District, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Area: 123.31 sqm
Construction Area: 55.95 sqm
Total Floor Area: 87.23 sqm
Structural Design: Yasuhiro Kaneda / Yasuhirokaneda Structure
Construction: Shinshin Construction Co., Ltd
3D Photography: Yuta Tokunaga / Archi Hatch
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