fujiwaramuro architects' narrow house in tezukayama, japan, is built around a 'shelf-staircase'

fujiwaramuro architects has built house in tezukayama, a small family dwelling located on a narrow street in a dense neighborhood of osaka, japan. set on a site measuring 3.74 meters wide by 16.31 meters deep, the residence extends mainly in the vertical direction with a ‘shelf-staircase’ dictating its interior. this highly practical structure comprises passages, shelves, a desk, and living space, and has been designed to function centrally in the residents’ daily life.images by toshiyuki yano photography, another one

‘we were involved in the project starting with the search for a lot and visited a number of potential sites with the client,’ explains fujiwaramuro architects. ‘ultimately, we selected this site measuring 3.74 m across by 16.31 m deep.’ the lot’s small size and lack of good exterior views, due to its dense residential surroundings, led the architects to devise a ‘shelf-staircase’ that serves as a multi-story living space and provides interesting interior views. additionally, the structure offers a display space, catering to the clients’ request for the house to provide places to display their photos, pictures, and decorations.

the shelf-staircase comprises passages, shelves, a desk, and living space, while it structurally independent from the overall building. this independence is visually expressed through slits inserted between the staircase and the split-level floors in front of and behind it. sunlight filters pleasantly through skylights at the top of these slits, while the views as one goes up and down the stairs are reminiscent of moving three-dimensionally through a forest. at the top of the structure there is a study with a desk that emerges from the shelving.

‘the soft natural light from the slits casts a mottled pattern like light filtering through trees onto the structure, making it a comfortable place where the residents sometimes pause to sit on one of the soft pine treads and read a book,’ adds fujiwaramuro architects. ‘it serves one more function as well: a giant cat tower for the recent feline addition to the family.’