Site size: 694 square feet

Project size: 1,094 square feet

Program:
In spite of a tight property and desire for privacy, the clients wanted a roomy house with airy open spaces, and as much light as possible. The clients turned to Tokyo-based architects Kiyotoshi Mori & Natsuko Kawamura of MDS to design their house.

Location:
The house is located on a compact, 694-square-foot parcel, in a dense residential neighborhood in Tokyo. On the south side of the property is a parking lot that may be developed in the future.

Solution:
Because of the uncertainty about the adjacent property, the architects built a peaked, monolithic house of reinforced poured-in-place concrete. From the street, its doorway on the faceted, south fa'ade is the only visible opening. This entrance leads to the ground floor, which has a double-height kitchen and dining areas. On this floor, the walls angle outward slightly for expanding the space.

A light metal stair leads upstairs to the living room and a study, which overlook the kitchen and dining areas below, and then to a rooftop terrace. The terrace's wall is entirely glazed, allowing light into the house from above. Bedrooms and other private spaces are located in the basement level.

Construction methods:
The house's reinforced concrete has a rough texture because of imprints from the cedar board forms. Inside surfaces are smooth walnut for the floors and white plaster for the walls.

Architect:
Kiyotoshi Mori & Natsuko Kawamura / MDS
5-4-35-907 Minami-Aoiyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 107-0062
Phone : + 81-3-5468-0825
FAX : +81-3-5468-0826