hugo kohno wraps cranks house in bands of protruding concrete
photography by seiichi ohsawa

 

 

 

charged with the task of designing a new dwelling within tokyo’s densely populated urban fabric, japanese architect hugo kohno has realized a three-storey home wrapped in bands of protruding concrete. built on a plot with soft ground conditions, the building’s weight needed to be significantly decreased through the implementation of a composite structural system — concrete is employed externally, with timber used for interior walls and flooring.

hugo kohno architect associates cranks reinforced concrete tokyo japan designboom
the three-storey home is wrapped in bands of protruding concrete

 

 

 

the ridged outer shell bears all horizontal forces, allowing for the free planning of infill components without the need for internal load-bearing walls. the architect refers to these structural members as ‘cranks’, a term which he later used to name the building. these ‘cranks’ are visible throughout the home’s interior, where they are utilized as ribs supporting wooden beams, light shelves and countertops.

hugo kohno architect associates cranks reinforced concrete tokyo japan designboom
the building’s weight was decreased through the implementation of a composite structural system

hugo kohno architect associates cranks reinforced concrete tokyo japan designboom
the building’s ‘cranks’ are visible throughout the home’s interior

hugo kohno architect associates cranks reinforced concrete tokyo japan designboom
an external terrace retains a sense of privacy

hugo kohno architect associates cranks reinforced concrete tokyo japan designboom
the dwelling’s secluded tatami room

hugo kohno architect associates cranks reinforced concrete tokyo japan designboom
carefully positioned windows provide daylight and views

hugo kohno architect associates cranks reinforced concrete tokyo japan designboom
the outer shell bears all horizontal loads

hugo kohno architect associates cranks reinforced concrete tokyo japan designboom
the house is located in tokyo’s densely populated urban fabric

hugo kohno architect associates cranks reinforced concrete tokyo japan designboom
the ridged exterior illuminated from within

 

drawings

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hugo kohno architect associates cranks reinforced concrete tokyo japan designboom
 
hugo kohno architect associates cranks reinforced concrete tokyo japan designboom
 
hugo kohno architect associates cranks reinforced concrete tokyo japan designboom
 
hugo kohno architect associates cranks reinforced concrete tokyo japan designboom
 
hugo kohno architect associates cranks reinforced concrete tokyo japan designboom
 
hugo kohno architect associates cranks reinforced concrete tokyo japan designboom
 
hugo kohno architect associates cranks reinforced concrete tokyo japan designboom
 

 

project info:

 

location: edogawa-ku, tokyo, japan
completed: may, 2014
structure: reinforced concrete, wood
site area: 140.81 sqm
building area: 83.23 sqm
total floor area: 209.34 sqm
architecture: hugo kohno architect associates
structural engineer: kentaro nagasaka
photography: seiichi ohsawa