bow pitched apertures light up house's symmetrical interior in tokyo

‘Dancing Roofs on a Cube’ by Hiroaki Taki’s Studio Blank Tokyo

Designer and founder of Studio Blank Tokyo, Hiroaki Taki, completes the refurbishment of a housing unit connecting two lease tenement blocks in Tokyo, Japan. The project, long held due to the lack of wood distribution to the market during the recent pandemic, applies a symmetrical timber truss covering it with an undulating roof system. The covering structure presents a wavy formation on the facade, hiding a set of three elongated skylights made of glass secured in wooden frames. The burr-shaped top scheme follows three different angles for each aperture to ensure northern light distribution throughout the year. The structural elements outlining the interior of ‘atelier aobadai’ are developed with concrete, while the exterior skin lays on metal sheets throughout the outer surfaces.

all images by provided Hiroaki Taki

burr-shaped top covers a symmetrical internal plan

The two dwelling units lay out a symmetrical plan inside the simple cubic volume interconnecting through the common living functions. With no independent entrance area the two residential blocks adjoin the public zones partitioning private mirroring areas. The bedrooms expand vertically in elevated wooden structures extending individual staircases. The stepped structures enclose within a black square wall that stands out as the main feature decorating the interior while retaining privacy. The interior arrangement by Studio Blank Tokyo benefits from the natural light shedding through the inclined skylights. 

the burr-shaped top scheme follows three different angles for each aperture

the bow pitched roof stands on top of a simple cubic volume covered with sheet metal

the bedrooms expand vertically in elevated wooden structures extending individual staircases

the stepped structures enclose within a black square partition that retains privacy

two dwelling units lay out a symmetrical plan interconnecting the common living functions

the black orthogonal partitions stand as the main feature of the interior supporting the staircases

the interior arrangement benefits from the natural light shedding through the inclined skylights

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back entrance

designated living area

designated bedroom area

kitchen

bathroom

project info:

name: atelier aobadai
designer: Hiroaki Taki – Studio Blank Tokyo

location: Tokyo, Japan