ship architecture adds alley garden to japan's town house in ikegami

designed by tokyo-based practice ship architecture, town house in ikegami is a 113-square-meter residential property in japan. the house, which is located in an area where properties feature an alley in between them, has taken this space and transformed it into a small garden. this alley garden, which is more a gap than a garden, has resulted in the starting point of the project as the design aims to create a relationship between the town, the project, and the alley garden itself.

all images by takumi ota / ship architecture

in ship architecture’s town house in ikegami, the alley garden also serves as the approach to the property, leading to the large first floor with a 4800 mm height. to create the relationship between the exterior and the interior, the architects have added sliding glass doors on the walls that face the alley garden, allowing users to go in and out from different spots. both light and wind flow from the openings, resulting in a natural and calm environment that feels like being in a semi-outdoor space.

the mezzanine, which looks like a balcony facing the first floor, is currently being used as an atelier office but can be made into a private room. the long staircase leads to the roof garden, where owners can grow vegetables and fruit trees, take lunch under the eaves, or just enjoy some time outside, adding a full-size garden to complement the one downstairs.

project info:

architect: ship architecture / toshiya nakamura + ai fuji
structural design: akira suzuki / ASA
constructor: koizumi mokuzai
design: 2014. 8 – 2015. 2
construction: 2015. 5 – 2016. 2
structure: wooden
site area: 120.29 sqm
building area: 70.86 sqm
floor area: 112.96 sqm
photography: takumi ota and ship architecture