masatoshi hirai architects combines living and working in slender timber building in tokyo

masatoshi hirai architects atelier has completed a mixed use building in shibuya, tokyo, combining a shop, a small office, and a multi-family house with a workplace. built using CLT (cross laminated timber), manufactured in mountain villages of japan, sarugaku plural directed tower adapts to the topography of its corner location, starting from a slender form and expanding as its site widens.

all images by takumi ota

masatoshi hirai architects atelier has combined living and working spaces by implementing the later in between areas of the multi-family residence. surplus areas in the housing part, produced as multiple households live together, are being used as workplaces, since, ‘unlike condominiums and office buildings, the work-residence mix forms a new typology that involves each other, creating relationships and communication that spans both sides, and building a community of new forms of living in cities,’ as the studio notes.

project info:

name: sarugaku plural directed tower

architect: masatoshi hirai architects atelier

location: shibuya, tokyo

principal use: shop, office, residence

site area: 62.50 sqm

total floor area: 172.96㎡

building area: 43.71㎡

structure: timber(CLT panel), partially reinforced concrete

structural engineers: oak structural engineers

facility adviser: mochida masanori

textile: yoko ando design

original lightings design: masatoshi hirai architects atelier, production: lignting crew

contractor: wada komuten