The house is situated at a narrow site in a quiet residential area of central Tokyo, while the site seems to symbolize the housing situation in the crowded city. One of the challenges was how to convert the 10-years-house in this kind of environment.
When the new house has been built, it creates a moving moment to the owners and visitors. Moreover, it brings new emotion and movement to the residential neighborhoods by setting up a pure white slanted wall on the top of existing wall. Besides, while the windows set back of the facades, it creates a shield layer from visual connection of people walking down the street.
The entrance resembles a tunnel penetrating the pure white walls. In this case, it is possible to lock the main gate in front and open the inner gate to let wind blowing into the house, at the same time preventing crimes.
For the interior space, whiteness sets up the tone and influences the textures. Other than the gentle gestures of the wood floor, tiles from the basin at the entrance to the bathrooms reflect the Japanese tradition idea of “dirt floor”.
Photography by Shinpei Kato of Japan
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