Need of Privacy. Concrete house by Torafu Architects
22/11/2012.
By Torafu Architects [Kitaōji - Kyoto] Japan
metalocus, JOSÉ JUAN BARBA
metalocus, JOSÉ JUAN BARBA
Near to the main living space a large square aperture reveals the location of a courtyard along one side of the house, eliminating corridors and letting small trips between the rooms around this area, with this idea, bedrooms, bathrooms, and auxiliary spaces, are also buffers between the outside and inside.
Description project by Torafu Architects
Located in a quiet housing estate in Kyoto, this house was designed with a hard concrete outer shell in order to protect the client need for privacy from the outside, as well as for accessibility in a wheelchair- bound lifestyle.
Firstly, to protect the privacy of the family, we built walls along the site boundary to elevate the main living space, which is maximised on the 2nd floor. We designed a large central space with individual rooms, wet areas and circulation and other utility spaces surrounding it, to ensure a distance is kept well from the outside. This compact formation also eliminated the need for passageways in this house. In contrast with the outer wall of this building, we used various kinds of furniture at the central space as partitions to softly separate the internal areas. Avoiding windows along the road, we located spaces with open ceilings and a terrace inside the building for light and ventilation. This way, the occupants can feel the outside anywhere from within this central space.
Considering the environment of the site resulted in a building with a gabled form. We folded the roofs of the small rooms around the central space into the yard to achieve a funnel shaped cross section, which allows light to enter easily into centre of the house. We also individualised the rooms by giving each a different ceiling height.
Although unseen from the outside, within the spaces of these different rooms under this big roof, a bright and open space was made possible.
Before, more information in:
METALOCUS-025 | José Juan Barba
published in: M-025 | p. 4
House in Kohoku. Yokohama Kanagawa, Japan | TORAFU ARCHITECTS. Koichi Suzuno, Shinya Kamuro
published in: M-025 | A.014 | p. 104
Torafu Architects Inc. Founded in 2004 by Koichi Suzuno and Shinya Kamuro, TORAFU ARCHITECTS employs a working approach based on architectural thinking. Works by the duo include a diverse range of products, from architectural design to interior design for shops, exhibition space design, product design, spatial installations and film making. Amongst some of their mains works are 'TEMPLATE IN CLASKA', 'NIKE 1LOVE', 'BOOLEAN', 'HOUSE IN KOHOKU' and 'airvase' . ‘Light Loom (Canon Milano Salone 2011)’ was awarded the Grand Prize of the Elita Design Award. Published in 2011were the 'airvase book' and 'TORAFU ARCHITECTS 2004-2011 Idea + Process' (by BIJUTSU SHUPPAN-SHA CO., LTD.) and in 2012, a picture book titled ‘TORAFU's Small City Planning' (by Heibonsha Limited).
Koichi Suzuno
1973: Born in Kanagawa Prefecture
1996: Graduated from Department of Architecture, Science University of Tokyo
1998: Completed the Master Course of Architecture, Yokohama National University
1998-2001: Worked at Coelacanth K&H
2002-2003: Worked at Kerstin Thompson Architects / Melbourne
2004.2-: Founded TORAFU ARCHITECTS with Shinya Kamuro
2005-2008: Lecturer at Tokyo University of Science
2008-: Lecturer at Showa Women's University
2010-2011: Lecturer at Kyoritsu Women's University
2010-: Lecturer at Musashino Art University
2012-: Lecturer at Tama Art University
Shinya Kamuro
1974: Born in Shimane Prefecture
1997: Graduated from Department of Architecture, School of Science & Technology,Meiji University
1999: Completed the Master Course of Architecture, Meiji University
2000-2003: Worked at Jun Aoki & Associates
2004.2-: Founded TORAFU ARCHITECTS with Koichi Suzuno
2008-: Lecturer at Showa Women's University