House and Studio in Tokyo

Squeezed between neighbouring buildings, this 3-metre-wide house was the product of a number of constraints: the tiny site area (71 m2), a tight budget, restrictive building regulations and the many wishes of the clients – a young artist couple. The concept is based on the principle of a tunnel. The house is open at the front and rear to draw light into the depth of the rooms and to create a visual link with the vegetation outside. The dominant feature of the interior is the load-bearing structure, which consists of laminated pine members at 60 cm centres. Bracing is provided by the wall and floor boarding. By linking the various floor levels with each other, a greater sense of space is created and the rooms can be naturally ventilated in summer. In winter, the vertical staircase space can be closed off to keep the house warm and to provide a greater degree of privacy.