MASA Architects completes residence for piano teachers in japan
MASA Architects completes IEIE in Urayasu City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, a project that integrates residential and professional spaces within a single structure. Designed for a couple who hosts piano lessons, IEIE incorporates multiple house-shaped volumes within a larger architectural composition. The structure evokes an abstract streetscape, where shifting light and layered spatial elements create a fluctuating perception of place. Horizontal metallic steel sheets clad the exterior, reflecting the changing sky.
all images courtesy of MASA Architects
natural light changes throughout the day, transforming IEIE
The Japanese architecture firm explores the idea of an urban experience within a private dwelling, where spaces are not rigidly defined but flow into one another. At dawn, sharp beams of natural light enter through a house-shaped slit at the top, illuminating the interiors with a soft glow. Throughout the day, light filters into different volumes—falling first into the entrance, then into the toilet—guiding movement and subtly altering the ambiance. At dusk, a mix of blue-tinged natural light and warm artificial illumination enhances the atmospheric depth of the MASA Architects’ house, making it feel less like a conventional home and more like a space shaped by chance, akin to a cave.
A striking element of the design is a bedroom perched atop the main house volume, resembling a birdhouse. This elevated retreat emphasizes the layering of domestic and urban references, reinforcing the conceptual framework of the structure. Meanwhile, the eaves, shaped like piano keys, provide an interactive feature for children attending piano lessons, adding a playful architectural gesture to the composition.
reflecting the changing sky
MASA Architects completes IEIE in Urayasu City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
a project that integrates residential and professional spaces within a single structure
designed for a couple who hosts piano lessons
IEIE incorporates multiple house-shaped volumes within a larger architectural composition
an urban experience within a private dwelling
the structure evokes an abstract streetscape
shifting light and layered spatial elements create a fluctuating perception of place
project info:
name: IEIE
architect: MASA architects | @masa_architects
location: Urayasu City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
lead architect: Masayoshi Nakanishi
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edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom
