Step inside a Tokyo home that nods to old-town appeal in a big-city context

Fukasawa, a residential space in south-west Tokyo, is quietly recognized for its architectural appeal, with sometimes small buildings lining narrow-fronted deep plots. It is usually outlined by its connection to designer Naoto Fukasawa, who designed his house there.

Tour a recent Fukasawa home

The environment is quaint, contemplating this is likely one of the world’s greatest metropoles, and echoes the character of an older purchasing avenue. It’s right here that you just’ll discover the latest accomplished residence by Japanese structure agency MIDW, nestled into its slender street-facing plot.

This Fukasawa home, which spans 2,73m in width and 13,65m in depth, is recognized by its six truss-shaped load-bearing partitions, with beams that span the size between the evenly spaced columns.

‘Our architectural work usually attracts inspiration from native development strategies. The normal Japanese timber post-and-beam system – fashioned via the meeting of linear wood members – combines flexibility and structural aesthetics, and stays one of the crucial prevalent constructing strategies immediately,’ says Daisuke Hattori, co-chairman and managing architect of MIDW.

‘On this undertaking, too, the structural framework performs a defining position. On this sense, it may be seen as a recent reinterpretation of conventional wood structure, reminiscent of that present in historic shrines and temples.’

Stepping inside the home, the ground is barely sunken. From right here, a sequence of areas unfolds, enjoying with shadow and lightweight. The straight staircase leads up right into a broad, open area on the higher stage, animated by the calming rhythm of the beams.

The undertaking, which is located in a sometimes dense inside Tokyo neighbourhood, left restricted area for manoeuvring – each when it comes to design gestures and materiality. ‘Fairly than treating this configuration as a mere constraint, we explored design approaches that would result in a extra common resolution whereas expressing an id formed by these website situations,’ explains Hattori.

The architects aimed to create an area that feels distinctive, but additionally acquainted. ‘“Specificity” and “universality” might look like opposing ideas, however we imagine they will coexist,’ says Hattori. The residence showcases completely different spatial situations, such because the darkish, high-ceiling floor ground, and the open and ‘lighter’ second ground, but its integration inside a single structural system permits for a harmonious distinction.

‘One of many key qualities of the undertaking is that, regardless of its compact total quantity, the inside conveys a way of spaciousness that exceeds its precise quantity,’ shares the architect.

‘To attain this, we collaborated intently with the structural engineer and furnishings designer to deal with supplies that normally exist at very completely different scales – from columns and beams to counter tops and inside fittings – as parts inside a steady spectrum. By avoiding shifts in scale contained in the constructing, all supplies join seamlessly, producing an impact of spatial continuity and a beneficiant sense of enlargement.’

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