kochi architect's studio: amida house

‘amida house’ by kochi architect’s studio, shizuoka, japanimage © daici anoall images courtesy of kochi architect’s studio

the ‘amida house’ in shizuoka, designed by japanese firm kochi architect’s studio, first began as a reformation of corbusier’s domino house system, retaining the concrete floor slab, free plan and slender columns and re-envisioning it in section. the floor planes between the three vertical zones marked by the ‘pilotis’ are shifted up and down as a ‘free section’ rather than a ‘free plan,’ offering a vertical integration of spaces. each level contains a unique function, the kitchen, bedroom, bike storage and garage, display area, guest room and rooftop terraces.

the separate heights provide various connections to either the ground or sky, at times revealing the peak of mount fuji towards the west. the entrance brings visitors to the center area of the dwelling, containing the private functions, with glimpses of the social activities occurring on the floors above. structural walls exist as the exterior envelope, freeing the interior to accentuate the level changes. the vertical circulation is allocated to the back side of the house within a shear wall system and through the several ladders.

each floor communicates with several othersimage © daici ano

offset levelsimage © daici ano

image © daici ano

bedroomimage © daici ano

(left) view to the garage(right) circulationimage © daici ano

living roomimage © daici ano

living room looking towards roof terracesimage © daici ano

(left) bathroom(right) dining roomimage © daici ano

exterior entranceimage © daici ano

site plan

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level 1

floor plan / level 2

floor plan / level 2.5

roof plan

section

section perspective

modelimage © kazuyasu kochi

project info:

architects: kazuyasu kochi / kochi architect’s studiolocation: gotenba, shizuoka, japanstructural engineer: mi+d architectural structure laboratoryconstractor: kouei koumutensite area: 187.3 m2total floor area: 115.5  m2year: 2011