takato tamagami architectural design: northern nautilus house

takato tamagami architectural design: northern nautilus house
all photos by masaya yoshimura

situated in an urban neighbourhood of sapporo, japan, takato tamagami architectural design have realized ‘northern nautilus’ a dwelling for a young couple. the development of the house was really informed by its surroundings. facing the street on the north side, the property sits opposite a large park. wanting to offer views of the green space for the inhabitants, takato tamagami designed ‘northern nautilus’ as two interlocking volumes–one cube sits parallel to the site, while the other is rotated by 30 degrees in order to face and afford views of the park, made possible through the large panoramic window on the top floor which faces towards it.

one volume sits parallel to the site, while the other is slightly rotated at a 30 degree angle

circulation through the home is provided via a spiraling staircase which connects the two volumes, each of which host different floors from the other, allocated for specific uses. the client enjoys outdoor sports, so a gap between the mezzanine ceiling and top story is used as storage for equipment. also located on the mezzanine is a built-in study and book cabinet for the client’s wife which is installed in such a way that it can also be used as a private room. while it is visually inaccessible from the rest of the house (minus the possibility to look between the mezzanine and the double-height bedroom above) it is connected to the second floor by a set of stairs behind the kitchen. the garage is found in the angled volume, built with a ceiling high enough to accommodate a canoe. the open platform above the car park also makes it easier for the owner to load and unload their sports goods directly from their vehicle.

each volume of the home houses a different level

the interior is a dynamic arrangement of spaces which all feature different ceiling heights. the entrance hall has a 6.6 meter-high void, and as you ascend towards the upper levels the ceiling heights of the living areas decreases. the living room on the mezzanine level is 3.9 meters high, while the dining room on the second floor is a mere 2.2 meters. the decision to vary the vertical dimensions offers a visual experience that emphasizes a sense of horizontality throughout the interior.

view of the built in wooden book cabinet from the mezzanine

kitchen

private study is visually inaccessible to the rest of the house except for sight lines to the bedroom

a spiraling staircase offers circulation

view from the kitchen to the mezzanine

ground floor

‘northern nautilus’ house by night

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project info:

 
name: northern nautilus
address: sapporo, japan
design company/architect: takato tamagami architectural design/takato tamagami
structural design company/engineer: S.FORM / akira ouchi
construction: MORINAGA co.,ltd.
photographer: masaya yoshimura
scope of work: new construction
structure: wooden structure
principal use: residence
total floor area: 131.02m2
finishing materials:
exterior wall: lysine roller finish paint
roof: galvanized color steel sheet standing seam roofing
interior floor: polyvinyl-chloride roll flooring
interior wall: vinyl sheet, lysin roller finish paint
interior ceiling: vinyl sheet
construction period: 2012.6.6～2012. 10.19