Tato Architects has designed this single-family home, which stands out for its crazy geometry, without practically any square footage, which in the words of the author of the work, will encourage residents to seek freedom, away from wanting to impose a model of life in their inhabitants, when leaving the conventional architetonic space of straight curves or curved.
The house designed by Tato Architects uses a wooden structure arranged in such a way that it closes to the outside, at the customer's request. The house has 3 gardens surrounding the perimeter, and two interior patios that allow the illumination and ventilation of the interior, preserving the privacy of the house. This quality creates a defragmentation of the home itself, which allows the creation of autonomous spaces, as well as the availability of different routes throughout the house
 

Description of project by Tato Architects

Well-planned houses are sometimes too close to human lives. While they are comfortable, I feel that too much planning has the risk of forcing a pre-defined lifestyle onto the residents. Perhaps if we start the process from a point not too close to the client’s initial wishes, and seek an autonomous solution while considering various conditions, we will ultimately enable them to live more freely and actively.

Simply-angled, geometric spaces are one of the possible forms for the residents to pursue freedom and make full use of an autonomous space. Since we are familiar with spaces designed with right angles, it is easy to measure their spatial volumes and relationships. However, by slightly turning the corners where the walls intersect, our spatial awareness suddenly becomes complicated, and we feel as if the limited space has expanded.

House in Hokusetsu is a house for a family who wishes to enjoy a life filled with everyday discoveries, and appreciate each other’s presence. Because they wanted to have many rooms, twelve 2.895-millimeter squares were arranged to connect to each other with a rhombus composed of two regular triangles. I had been sensing potential in this pattern from earlier studies, where we had experimented by making models(fig1.2). As the twelve squares are gradually turned to become a sequence of eighteen squares(fig3-8), a position that fit nicely into the site was selected, creating a dynamic pattern out of all the different angles. The main functions were primarily placed within the square parts of the plan, and the rhombus areas were left undefined for free use.

The structure remains relatively closed to its surroundings, which was the client’s wish. There are three garden spaces along the outer perimeter, and two courtyards on the interior. As a result of the plan pattern design, both indoor spaces and courtyards are brightened by top light, and illuminated with various forms of light.

Since exposure to outdoor scenery, to which one can position himself, is limited, the space encourages the residents to travel between the different rooms to rediscover their own location. The structure is made of wood, and each square plan is simply supported by pillars, resulting in a peaceful interior despite its unique form.

The design of this house has a simplicity similar to ‘a cross inside a square’ plan used in old houses. Each part, while representing a different quality, is also compatible and expandable, and there is possibility for various circulations to emerge. This house is filled with autonomous spaces that can accommodate changes in lifestyle; it is a crystalline labyrinth where the spaces are repeatedly reflected into a prismatic figure.

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Architects
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Tato Architects. Yo Shimada, NObuhiko Sato.
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Design team
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Design.- Tato Architects/Yo Shimada. Team / Yo Shimada NObuhiko Sato.
Structure.- Takashi Manda Structural Design. Team / Takashi Manda Taijiro Kato.
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Construction
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Hirota Kensetsu.
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Structure
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Main Structure, wooden frame.
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Measures
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Two-story house. Site Area.- 381.27 m² Building Area 150.53m² (39.48% of max 40% of coverage ratio permission). Total Floor Area 196.07m² (51.42% of max 80% of floor area ratio permission). First floor 139.78 m². Second floor 56.29 m².
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Programme
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House / Family Structure / couple + three children.
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Dates
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2015.
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Photography
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Shinkenchiku Sha.
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Yo Shimada borns in Kobe, Japan (1972), is graduated by the Kyoto City University of Arts in 1994, and graduated in the post graduate course of Kyoto City University of Arts in 1996. In 1997 he establishs Tato Architects in Kobe Japan.

Based in his home town of Kobe, Tato Architects undertakes projects throughout various locations in Japan. The projects are mainly private houses; however, in recent years the office has taken on assignments for interior and installation work as well. The ideology of the practice is to formulate positive outcomes through understanding the subtle conditions and constraints of everyday life, which exist within notions of place, culture and the ongoing history of architecture.

These ideas have been further discussed in publications such as, 7iP #04 YO SHIMADA(7inchproject, 2012)and Everyday Design Everyday : Yo Shimada (Contemporary Architect’s Concept Series 22,2016)

The name Tato (タト)is derived from the decomposition of the kanji character 外(outside),  which can be read in multiple ways. Tato Architects is interested in the process of continuous exploration, in order to achieve a kind of ambiguity in its architecture; an architecture that renews itself through the perspective of people's everyday experiences. Furthermore, the practice aims to create an architecture that quietly alters people's consciousness.

Awards
1994 4th Japan Art Scholarship(Aoyama Spiral garden,TOKYO), Special Prize.
1999 1st ELLE DECO Japan award,  Grand Prix.
2004 1st Wooden Architectural Space Design Competition, Superior Prize.
2011 1st Art project competition of kobe Biennale, Prize.
2011 Kanden house design competition 2011, Superior Prize.
2013    LIXIL design Contest Gold Prize
2013    Asia Pacific Property Award Architecture Single Residence, Highly Commended
2013    Yoshioka Prize
2016    Architectural Design Association of Nippon Awards, Grand Prize
2016    AIA Brisbane Regional Awards, House of the Year Award
2016    AIA State Award, Queensland Architecture Awards
2016    AIA National Commendation, National Architecture Awards

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Published on: October 9, 2019
Cite: "House in Hokusetsu by Tato Architects/Yo Shimada" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/house-hokusetsu-tato-architectsyo-shimada> ISSN 1139-6415
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