mizuishi architect atelier: house in nukuikitamachi

japanese practice mizuishi architect atelier (kota mizuishi) has shared with us images of ‘house in nukuikitamachi’, a two-storey private dwelling for a family of four and their pets in tokyo, japan. aiming to be a flexible living space that does not require constant maintenance, the design utilizes a series of ‘futokoro’ – recess void within something – to create a number of functional areas that extend the layout.

exterior view

situated deep within a block with neighboring structures to the east and the west, the house was positioned to benefit from a north-south wind for optimum cross-ventilation. the short facades are conceived as an open interface, with a porous wooden lattice made out of vertical slats to the front, and floor-to-ceiling windows to the back. the partially-sheltered outdoor space created by this ‘fence’ serves as a terrace finished with earthen floor.

approach

the structural support of the form is mainly achieved by the long elevations, which utilizes its 600 mm thickness to accommodate multiple recessed spaces. equipped with tracked curtains, these pockets serve as places for storage, a working table, water closet, and more. a central staircase encased in a white, multi-storey unit creates a lightwell through both storeys, establishing visual connection between family members of the house.

terrace space

looking into living space

view of terrace space from second level

from kitchen

staircase

lightwell

view of kitchen on lower level

(left) atrium lightwell
(right) view of bedroom

bedroom on second level

view of study space from bedroom

washroom

night view

project info:

site area: 157.27 m2
building area: 67.52 m2
total floor area: 108.11 m2
structure: wood
storey: 2
structural engineer: kentaro nagasaka
lighting designer: yasuo tsunoda
contractor: kraft home