
'split machiya' by atelier bow wow, shinjuku, tokyo, japan
images © manuel oka
japanese practice atelier bow wow has created 'split machiya', a private home for a couple and a single woman in tokyo, japan.
sited within a densely populated neighborhood, the dwelling is composed of two mirrored structures, loosely connected by a
lush central courtyard.

(left) living room with view towards second structure
(right) living room with view towards kitchen and stairway
informed by the confined plot of land, the residences feature compact
and split level designs aimed at generating a visually
open and integrated living environment. similar in organization, the homes each consist of modest and private spaces accordingly
hosted on two and a half floors. exposed wooden beams accommodate built in shelves and work stations, relieving the rooms of
clutter and excess adornment.

living room and kitchen
the pitched roof form is translated inside to further emphasize the expansion of space, while skylights introduce additional
natural light and ventilation into the dwelling. four large windows are
aligned on the second-storey to create a continuous
sightline between both the residences and the contrasting surrounding landscape.

living room and courtyard

(left) bedroom
(right) office

office

backyard

second storey of second home, looking back onto the couple's residence

the aligned red roofs of the dwellings stand out in the congested skyline
absolutely incredible…. they were here before the whitewashing and they will be here long after it has passed….
beautiful
ahh! i was hoping to see a section detail of that super-thin roof edge profile! guess it’s a trade secret.
please, does anyone knows where to find some plans, sections of this project?
reminds me of Tadao Ando Azuma House (Row House)
Bow Wow are volume geniuses.