atelier tekuto's exposed concrete home in tokyo displays a chamfered façade

atelier tekuto’s exposed concrete home in tokyo displays a chamfered façade
image © atelier tekuto

on a corner plot of land measuring at a mere 66sqm, japanese studio atelier tekuto were tasked with designing a distinctive, concrete building and at the same time, be environmentally conscious to its surroundings. located in central tokyo, the married couple who owns the property ‘wanted to see exposed concrete inside and out’. after an initial design concept and extensive research into material properties, the home was completed within two and a half years.

the entrance into the home in tokyo
image © yuzo watanabe

working with a small area resulted in the maximizing of space by building upwards, ‘it is the only direction with a true feeling of the vastness of nature – to form a strong connection with the sky’ explains the architect. formed at an angle, the concrete volume has corners carved away creating the triangular window openings. this element of cutting away from the internal volume, paradoxically influences the spaciousness of the interior.

the kitchen, living and dining room has been placed on the second floor
image © toshihiro sobajima

the property is composed of four-storeys which is not distinguishable from the outside. a floating staircase spirals up through home connecting all the levels, meanwhile the geometric windows punctuate the interiors with a consistent stream of daylight. internally, there is a sound insulated audio visual room in the basement, and a spacious gallery with a traditional japanese room placed on the first floor. functionality was prioritized on the second floor with a living room, dining room, kitchen and bathroom combined into one. the living room is compact, but the five meter high ceiling with the large oblique window draws attention to the height and take the attention away from the size.

the triangular ‘cuts’ form the windows
image © toshihiro sobajima

underpinning the environmental aspect to the project, the concrete used throughout the structure is 100% recyclable. the compounds mixed in contains ‘shirasu’- a deposit from the pyroclastic flow of volcanic ash which is commonly found in the southern parts of japan. its durability, which increases over time due to the pozzolanic reaction, is one of the many advantages of this specific concrete, but it also contains deodorizing qualities and stabilizes internal humidity.

to secure a comfortable interior climate, a ‘thermal circulation system’ was incorporated
image © toshihiro sobajima