Architects: APOLLO Architects & Associates
Area: 102 m²
Year: 2013
Photographs: Masao Nishikawa
City: Sumida
Country: Japan
Alley, a house designed by APOLLO Architects & Associates near Tokyo Skytree, blends modern design with traditional Japanese elements in a dense downtown neighborhood. Built on a small, narrow lot, the house uses dark brown galvanized steel exterior walls, integrating naturally with the old surroundings. Glass street-facing walls and high windows ensure ample light and views. Interior features include exposed joists, see-through stairs, a hori-gotatsu table in the family room, and a U-shaped open kitchen, creating a “small cosmos” where the couple can feel at ease in their compact yet thoughtfully designed home.
A client for whom the architect designed and supervised a house eight years ago recently married and purchased a small lot near Tokyo Skytree, in a downtown area. Due to the challenges of constructing on the small, narrow site at the end of a narrow path, wooden construction was selected. The house features soft, dark brown galvanized steel exterior walls, creating a Japanese aesthetic that blends naturally with the surrounding historic neighborhood.
Glass walls on the street side allow indoor views to encompass the surrounding environment. At night, ceilings with exposed joists and see-through stairs are illuminated, making the exterior resemble a tower of light. Along with the large facade opening, a high window in the penthouse provides ample light to the interior, ensuring the house doesn’t feel confined despite its location in a high-density residential area.
Behind the large entrance earth floor, a small multipurpose space serves as a reception room. Sitting on the edge of this intermediate space creates a sense of unity with the entrance hall, evoking the feel of traditional Japanese homes. In the second-floor family room, a hori-gotatsu-style table (a sunken area for sitting around a built-in table) replaces chairs or a sofa, offering a place to relax while enjoying the stunning view of Tokyo Skytree.
A large U-shaped open kitchen enables the couple to cook authentic dishes together and host numerous guests. A step between the kitchen and family room adds visual interest and rhythm to the compact space, while indirect lighting creates a distinctive ambiance. For the busy couple, this “small cosmos” perfectly embodies their vision of an ideal, intimate home.
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Project Location
Address: Sumida City, Tokyo, Japan
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.