KUS: machida m

'machida m' by KUS in machida, tokyo, japan
all images courtesy KUS
image © satoshi asakawa


japanese architects KUS (eijiro kosugi, aya utsumi) have shared with us images of 'machida m',
a two-storey dwelling on the edge of a residential neighbourhood of machida city, tokyo, japan.
responding to the lush forest that slopes up to the north of the house, the design creates an open
interface through large stretches of windows to directly engage with the natural qualities of the site.



exterior view
image © eijiro kosugi


read as a small and simple structure from the front, the house features a dramatically sloped
roof form that reaches up to the forest behind. a set of reinforced walls creates a platform between
the street level and the existing topography, placing the dwelling on a flat foundation while
generating an outdoor terrace and garden in the approach. the front elevation is pragmatically
marked by a door and a large floor-to-ceiling aperture that puts on stage the living space within.
the activities of the dining room can be extended out on to the terrace through a system of
sliding windows.



front elevation
image © satoshi asakawa



view into the dining space
image © satoshi asakawa


opening to a double-height ceiling, the ground level kitchen and dining space maintains
an airy quality and serves as a communal volume that establishes multiple sight lines throughout
the house. a slightly elevated room that is directly connected to this space gains definition
through contrasting materiality. more private and quiet in character, the second level overlooks
the area below as a mezzanine. the angle of the sloped roof form is put on focus through a
rhythmic composition of beams which line the ceiling in detail. built-in shelving units flank
the layout and even juts out on the east side as an elevated library.



interior view
image © satoshi asakawa



view of kitchen and dining space
image © satoshi asakawa



view from above of the material palette
image © satoshi asakawa



elevated room
image © satoshi asakawa



view of entrance from elevated room
image © satoshi asakawa



second level
image © satoshi asakawa



elevated library/hallway
image © satoshi asakawa



built-in shelves
image © satoshi asakawa



image © satoshi asakawa



(left) staircase
(right) detail of timber structure
images © satoshi asakawa



image © satoshi asakawa



second level at night
image © satoshi asakawa



outdoor terrace
image © eijiro kosugi



floor plan / level 0



floor plan / level +1



section



(left) west elevation
(right) east elevation



(left) south elevation
(right) north elevation


project info:

site area: 213.16 m2
building area: 68.40 m2
total floor area: 99.58 m2
storeys: 2
structure: timber

structural engineers: yukihio kato / MI+D
lighting design: yutaka inaba /for lights
main contractor: sansho kensetsu