this wooden dwelling in japan filters light through its translucent façade

MSD studio completes ‘tachikawa annex’ in japan

‘tachikawa annex’ is a hybrid building in japan, accommodating a warehouse (used as an annex of an apparel maker’s office and occasionally as a photo studio) and the owner’s house. designed by tokyo-based architectural studio MDS, the final composition takes shape as a light wooden structure that plays with transparency and light. as the design team described, the result is a shadowless world filled with faint light.images by MDS 

daylight is filtered through translucent polycarbonate panels

located on a site that sees multiple-use areas and many variations in structural form and height, the final design adopts its very own character offering its owners the opportunity to live and work balancing privacy and openness. 

the design team opted for lightweight two-storey construction that responds to the different uses. for the purpose of photo studio use, the openings on the first floor were suppressed. by doing so, the daylight that penetrates the interior is limited and controlled. 

in contrast, the upper level, which serves as a residence, welcomes the natural light in. the architects clad the entire front façade in thick translucent polycarbonate panels that block the line of sight. apart from light filtering, this material has high heat-shielding and heat-insulating performance as a measure against the west sun.

curating the interior, wood becomes the main protagonist of the project. the wood is employed everywhere and in various states of transformation in order to ensure a pleasant aesthetic. a V-shaped hut frame stands on pillars extending from the first level to the upper floor. the double-height interior with the exposed wooden beams adds some nods of rustic aesthetics. especially when the sun goes down, the artificial light enlivens the wood, offering an intimate warm atmosphere.

employing a clear design with fluidity

an artificial hill rises up the inhabitants to the second floor

V-shaped hut frame with hidden lighting

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project info:

name: tachikawa ANNEX

architects: MDS

leading architects: kiyotoshi mori, natsuko kawamura

location: tachikawa, tokyo