'sway house' by atelier bow wow

exterior views of the house which looks slightly off-balance

the sway house is a live / work space which was commissioned by a young couple. located in the setagaya neighbourhood of tokyo, the neighbourhood where it is situated speaks of tokyo’s post-world war II resilience and the rapid rate of construction, housing densely packed streets. the built space consists of tapering proportions and lines resulting in a warped, off-kilter structure. made up of a wooden framework and clad in horizontal panels of galvanized steel, sway house has no internal dividers, with an interior that consists of nine rooms on four staggered levels, which are all connected by an internal white staircase.

galvanized steel clads the exterior of the house

bookshelves are built into the structure providing storage and effective use of space

a central white staircase connects the four floors of the house

designboom snapshots japan goes west

atelier bow-wow: http://www.bow-wow.jp