OH House (Project1000)

Yamashita Yasuhiro x Atelier TEKUTO

This house is built on an irregular shaped lot which is 1.5 m lower than the road.  The client’s top priority was a parking space for their car.  We created a parking space with meshed steel, where light can filter through onto the underground level.  Looking up from beneath, it looks as though the car is floating.  Total of 6 people, the client’s family of 3, his parents and sister, will live in this house.  “More specific the conditions are on a project, less deviation from the concept” says Yamashita.  “If the client and architect share the same visual image, the architect could skillfully cut down building costs utilising his knowledge.” Even if the budget is limited, structural strength and adequate insulation for an optimal environment for the residents will never be compromised.  On the other hand, the interior materials can contribute to lower the cost with the consideration to the family structure that changes over time.

Suspended furniture, wide opening
Maximum usage of limited space

The client wished to have as much family space as possible on the ground floor. In order to maximize the space, cantilevered shelves and a dining table suspended from the ceiling was designed.  Also, the balance of openings was carefully considered.  “Even though we answered to the request to avoid being seen from the outside, we made the window as large as possible to allow fresh air into the house.  Window placement is very important for a building”, says Yamashita.

No worries for being seen from outside
Light filled privacy on the underground floor

Since the parking space in the limited lot was the first priority for the client, we positioned the  entrance on the underground beside the stairs from the parking.  Upon entering the house, there is a flight of stairs for the family area and 2 bedrooms with a bathroom at the far side.  By using meshed steel for the parking space, the underground bedrooms gained natural light with privacy, and the far end bathroom also have plenty of natural light hidden by the upper floor porch.

Double-sloped ceiling causes visual illusion

Yamashita states, “Upon entering a space, human eyes unconsciously measure distance from perpendicular lines”, and created a double-sloped ceiling.  It made the family living area with a loft (1 bedroom) a space where “unconscious measurement” becomes difficult.  This interior surprises people as “feeling much wider than seen from the outside”.  Yamashita, globally known for his unique way of construction, structure and design methods, says “building with a beautiful structure leads to beautiful finish. Sometimes, even I am surprised with the end result.”

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completion dateJuly 2010
locationTokyo
building usePrivate House
site area84.46㎡
building area46.06㎡
total floor area88.06㎡
constructionWood structure
floor number1-2F + Car parking
architectural designYasuhiro Yamashita, Takumi Niwamoto / Atelier Tekuto
constructional designJunichi Motooka, Mayumi Kasugai /Motooka Structural Engineers
construction managementNinomiya Co., Ltd.
photographSOBAJIMA, Toshihiro

関連の実績

M house(Project1000)

OH House (Project1000)