wiel arets architects wraps A' house in tokyo with dual skin

wiel arets architects wraps A’ house in tokyo with dual skin
image © jan bitter
all images courtesy of wiel arets architects

nestled within the dense residential streets of tokyo, this compact dwelling consists of five horizontally divided spaces, each connected with a narrow winding staircase. designed by the european-based wiel arets architects, the property’s oversized windows comprise two layers of glazing. the first being completely transparent, while the other is of the same relief glass that wraps the façade, allowing the various apertures to be readily reconfigured.

image © jan bitter

providing unobstructed views, both layers of glazing slide on tracks, which extend to double the width of the windows. at ground floor level, one of these apertures serves as the main entry, and opens to reveal the kitchen.

each of the home’s five storeys has a different specified program, with storage and technical spaces found at the lowermost level. two bedrooms are housed below street level, while the kitchen and dining room occupy the ground floor with the dwelling’s living spaces above. at the uppermost level, a master suite is adjoined by a wooden ‘ofuro’, offering a place to relax and unwind.

images © jan bitter

image © jan bitter

image © jan bitter

images © jan bitter

image © jan bitter

image © jan bitter

image © jan bitter

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project info:

location: tokyo, japan
program: residential
size: 136 sqm (1,464 sqf)
date of design: 2007-2009
date of completion: autumn, 2014
project team: wiel arets, satoru umehara, alex kunnen
collaborators: jörg lüthke, jean-jacques jungers, sadamu shirafuji, ilze paklone
client: arets-sijstermans
consultants: tai mikio architect & associates, LOW FAT structure INC, EOS plus co. ltd, comodo co. ltd, oskomera group BV, saint gobain glass, eiger co. ltd