Beauty With A View

15 March 2012,

The Spatial Character Of This House, Which Embodies Elements That Are Both Mundane And Extraordinary, Demonstrates The Wealth Of Possibilities That Can Be Realized In Urban Residential Architecture.

To make the most of the magnificent view overlooking the north side of the plot, the latent potential of the location installed panoramic windows inside the house that would give the residents an unobstructed view of the scenic surroundings. The first floor was compactly outfitted with a small, Japanese style straw-matted bedroom, as well as a bathroom and dressing area with an attached terrace. Each of these spaces commanded a handsome view of the landscape outside.

The second storey was configured as a single, open room with an attached roof balcony. Bookshelves were also installed on the structural walls, while a table at the edge of the dining area provides a comfortable space for reading, creating a library-like atmosphere. The children’s room and a large outdoor living space are located on the third floor. Although the scenery visible from the terraces located on each floor is identical, the varied character of each space ensures that a different impression of this single landscape is created each time.

In addition to a car-sized parking space, the entrance to the house also includes a built-in bike garage that offers ample room for maintenance and cleaning work to be carried out. Standing at the foot of the slope and looking up at this sleek, white mass that seems to float on top of the hill, the viewer is struck by this symbolic, monumental presence – an impression that contrasts sharply with the closed appearance presented by the front entrance.

Architect: Satoshi Kurosaki/APOLLO Architects & Associates
Location: Nishidai Itabashi ward, Tokyo, Japan
Completed: 2011
Structure: Timber structure
Site Area: 54.86sqm
Construction: Honma Construction
Photographers: Masao Nishikawa