This project is situated on a residential plot of about 50 square meters in the Tokyo suburbs. The site faces east towards the street, with the first floor elevated 2 meters above street level. The other three sides are enclosed by neighboring residences, limiting views and creating a distinctive floating sensation for the home. This positioning offers expansive views toward the street and a glimpse of the school playground across the way. The homeowners, a couple with children, are also the architects behind the design.
The site faces strict regulations, including building setbacks and a maximum buildable area of less than 25 square meters. In response, the design features a tower-shaped residence with two floors above ground and two below. A continuous staircase combined with a small atrium in the corner facilitates the flow of light, air, and movement throughout the house, creating a seamless spatial experience.
Viewed in section, the main entrance sits at the mid-level. Upon entering this narrow, crack-like opening, visitors feel as if they are swept into a flowing current, suspended in mid-air. The house does not emphasize a clear starting point for this ‘flow’; instead, it embraces a fluidity without a rigid framework. Various factors—such as functional layout, interaction with the surrounding environment, and evolving design decisions—coexist harmoniously with this flow, akin to the “basso continuo” in music. The design process did not revolve around a fixed panoramic vision but evolved through these dynamic elements.
△ Section diagram
The design process produced many unique elements, resulting in discontinuities between openings and floors, along with variations in scale and balance among rooms and interiors. This floating perspective allows the home to embrace the past, present, and future with a neutral, open attitude.
Design Drawings
△ Plan view
△ Thermal environment simulation
Project Information
Project Type: Independent Residential Building
Location: Japan
Architectural Design: Aoyagi Design
Area: 93 m²
Year: 2019
Photographer: Takumi Ota
Suppliers: AGC Glass, AutoDesk, IOC Flooring, Sankyo Aluminum, Yamada Shomei Lighting, Luci
Lead Architect: Aoyagi Design
Design Team: Hajime Aoyagi, Ayaka Aoyagi
Structural Engineering: KONISHI STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS – Yasutaka Konishi, Takuya Asamitsu, Kengo Marumoto
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