Urban rules as an opportunity. Cuadro Nakano North by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture

Project description by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture

Located within walking distance from Nakano Station in western Tokyo, Cuadro Nakano North was designed by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture, in collaboration with Kiz Architects, Hidetaka Gonai/Escenario, for the client, Nobumitsu Ohashi/Shukou Kensetsu. The project reconsiders contemporary dwellings in a densely populated, historically rich urban environment with limited per-plot space. Comprising three units, the project emphasizes maximal utilization of natural energy and pursues comfortable livability.

Reflecting Tokyo's historical housing context. where areas with small plots still exist, Cuadro Nakano North stands on such a compact site, measuring 4.7m wide and 14m deep. Despite the constraints of slope limitations and floor-area ratios shaping modern Tokyo's urban landscape, Cuadro Nakano North elegantly balances and optimizes the use of the site.

Given the recent housing challenges in Tokyo, the project tackled the challenging task of accommodating three residential units and parking spaces within this proportionally small site, responding to the site's unique shape and constraints. The firm's solution involved a single staircase linking up to four levels, utilizing the space efficiently to ensure ample living areas. The staircase, visually integrated within the living spaces, serves as both functional steps and display storage. Additionally, the top floor incorporates a workspace counter atop the staircase, addressing the demand for remote work in contemporary society. To accommodate two parking spaces, the building elevates on the eastern side, creating a compact piloti and considering potential room for recreational use, ensured by high-side lighting for ventilation and illumination.


Cuadro Nakano North by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Bauhaus Neo, Sherpa.

Rooms, including the kitchen, feature a minimalist color scheme with unified white fixtures, fittings, and lighting, alongside concrete and white walls. Collectively, it creates an uncluttered, refined ambiance. High-performance airtight windows, with 1,700 square millimeter openings, facilitate natural ventilation and lighting, minimizing the need for air conditioning.

The building employs linear lighting to enhance a sophisticated urban atmosphere. Despite slope limitations, the lighting design on the inclined top floor walls creates a contrast of light and shadow, enlarging the space's appeal within its limited area, and ensuring a rich living experience.