rotated interior wall shapes triangular sunlit voids within tiny wooden house in tokyo

HAGISO Inc. forms nested twisting wall for House in Yanaka

HAGISO Inc. design studio conceives Twist House, a tiny wooden house set within the dense urban fabric of Yanaka, Tokyo. The area, designated as a quasi-fire prevention district, preserves numerous shrines and temples that survived wartime destruction. In response to its conventional residential surroundings, the design introduces a subtle yet distinctive element of 10° rotation.

Externally, the house maintains a simple rectangular form, harmonizing with neighboring buildings by following similar proportions for balconies and pilotis. However, within it, a nested wall is rotated by 10°, generating intriguing triangular voids at the corners, as if formed by the splitting of wall thickness. These voids function as staircases and balconies, enhancing natural light, ventilation, and insulation. They also act as transitional spaces, mediating between the interior and the outside world a ‘third space’ that is neither fully enclosed nor completely open.

all images courtesy of HAGISO Inc.

Twist House’s irregular interior visually expands the space

The designers at HAGISO Inc. utilize these triangular voids as pockets of light, visually expanding the perceived spatial volume beyond the actual floor area. In a three-story structure where vertical movement plays a significant role, the staircase subtly widens as it ascends, transitioning from the shadowed lower floors to the brighter upper levels. This variation creates a sense of rhythm, preventing movement through the house from feeling monotonous. By introducing a 10° rotation within a site tightly enclosed on three sides, the design achieves both brightness and privacy, redefining the conventional image of urban housing.

Twist House by HAGISO Inc. reinterprets urban housing with a 10° rotation in its design

the 10° rotated interior creates triangular voids, enhancing light, ventilation, and insulation

nested walls rotate within the structure, forming dynamic transitional spaces

the interplay of light and geometry expands the perception of space within the compact footprint

natural light filters through the triangular voids, animating the interiors throughout the day

small shifts in form create meaningful spatial effects within the home

the design team at HAGISO Inc. opts for a minimal material palette

gradual widening of the staircase guides movement from shadowed lower floors to bright upper levels

the design transforms voids into staircases and balconies

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project info:

name: Twist House
architect: HAGISO inc.

location: Yanaka, Tokyo, Japan

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom