komada architects office: HAT house, japan
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'HAT house' by komada architects, tokyo, japan
image © toshihiro
all images courtesy of komada architects
tokyo-based architects takeshi and yuka komada are re-imagining the possibilities of the small urban infill lot with their 'HAT house',
an elegant exercise in urban dwelling. located on a small corner site in the suginami-ku section of tokyo, the architects strove to combat
urban congestion and redefine the relationship of interior and exterior by developing a symmetrical square plan with two open decks.
these 'wings' make use of the corner site by creating a continuous horizontal first floor plane, interrupted only by the sliding glass doors.
this minimalist veranda is covered by a 'hat-like' asymmetrical roof. the glazing on all four sides of the house provides views of the nearby park
and visually widen the occupiable space. the basement level is a carpark, in keeping with the vertical thinking that so characterizes urban living.
each corner of the two story house contains a different private program, among them, storerooms, toilets, a staircase, and most remarkably
a komoreru room - a space of calm in the surrounding urban streetscape.
a view through one on the central axis. the balconies are protected by the overhanging roof
image © toshihiro
the cruciform space was envisioned as the bustling area of daily activity; the corner rooms provide structure and modules of privacy and circulation
image © toshihiro
numerous apertures afford views of the park entrance and dense urban streetscape, while still providing an separate space for study
image © toshihiro
(left) study room
(right) staircase.
image © toshihiro
the second floor contains the lofted bedrooms but keeps the symmetrical spatial organization and open plan
image © toshihiro
a sloped ceiling with a skylight allows for the maximum entrance of light despite the proximity to the neighboring property
image © toshihiro
floor plan / level -1: carpark plan
floor plan / level 0
floor plan / level 1
floor plan / level 2
section
elevation
if you can't get enough of houses like these, head over to huffington post to see 11 other small homes that live large.
I totally get it now. Japanese architects absolutely hate space. That’s the only reasonable explanation why almost every single Japanese project presented on this website takes an already small plot, and reduces the living space further by creating a floor plan where all of the “rooms” in the house basically aren’t anything more than nooks and crannies.
Even though the bedroom space is very limited, i like how they used the space on the first floor (living area). I like this project a lot, but the bedrooms could use some work for some added privacy.
see atelier bow-wow’s “gae house,” a nice comparison
Love the play of light here. Comfy home and practical, and not too outstanding in a neighbourhood.
la rotonda
I cannot understand that “study” room. It is kinda I wanna kill my eyes, and then kill my self. How can close yourself in a box with no windows and then expect to be creative and productive…Absolut nonsense. If I have to mention anything on the bedrooms …Erik said it all – no privacy. These badroom could have done the work in a hostel …At least one propper shoud have been designed