homouscheesecake. architecture: wood

Monday, 17 October 2011

Atlier; House in Nukuikitamachi

'house in nukuikitamachi' by mizuishi architects atelier in koganei, tokyo, japan
all images courtesy mizuishi architects atelier

japanese practice mizuishi architect atelier (kota mizuishi) has shared with us images of
'house in nukuikitamachi', a two-storey private dwelling for a family of four and their pets
in tokyo, japan. aiming to be a flexible living space that does not require constant maintenance,
the design utilizes a series of 'futokoro' - recess void within something - to create a number
of functional areas that extend the layout.

exterior view
situated deep within a block with neighbouring structures to the east and the west,
the house was positioned to benefit from a north-south wind for optimum cross-ventilation.
the short facades are conceived as an open interface, with a porous wooden lattice made
out of vertical slats to the front, and floor-to-ceiling windows to the back. the partially-sheltered
outdoor space created by this 'fence' serves as a terrace finished with earthen floor.

approach
the structural support of the form is mainly achieved by the long elevations, which utilizes
its 600 mm thickness to accommodate multiple recessed spaces. equipped with tracked curtains,
these pockets serve as places for storage, a working table, water closet, and more.
a central staircase encased in a white, multi-storey unit creates a lightwell through both storeys,
establishing visual connection between family members of the house.