‘coil’ by akihisa hirata architecture office, japan image © koichi torimura all images courtesy of akihisa hirata architecture office

tucked within in a dense residential district of tokyo, the ‘coil’ residence by japanese practice akihisa hirata architecture office recedes into the context with a neutral, white exterior. following a continuous experiential sequence as some may consider life to be, the inhabitant’s experience a blurring of city and home, with a continuous spatial experience unveiled upon pulling into the garage. rooms are integrated into a singular corridor which gradually steps and rises throughout the interior.

three structural columns are evenly spaced within the footprint and span from the ground floor to the roof. the stairway then winds from the entry to the second floor. inhabitants move softly and organically between the interconnected spaces. derived from the complex order of a coil, the logical arrangement of the interior demonstrates the inherent order found even amongst living things.

the architect’s tangling exhibition is still on show through november 17th at the architectural association in london.

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 2 street entry elevation images © koichi torimura

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 3 rear of residence blends into its context image © koichi torimura

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 4 rear of residence image © koichi torimura

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 5 (left) ground level entry (right) stairway spirals towards a library lining the residence’s exterior wall images © koichi torimura

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 6 stairs leading past the library to the reading area images © koichi torimura

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 7 library images © koichi torimura

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 8 stairs lead from the reading area to the childrens play area image © koichi torimura

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 9 aerial view of library from stairway images © koichi torimura

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 10 kitchen + dining area images © koichi torimura

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 11 illuminated at night image © koichi torimura

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 12 at dusk image © koichi torimura

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 13 main structure

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 14 staggered floor plates

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 15 living spaces amidst the staggered levels

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 16 axnometric

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 17 site plan

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 18 floor plan / level 0

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 19 floor plan / level 1

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 20 floor plan / level 2

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 21 roof plan

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 22 section

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 23 section

akihisa hirata architecture office: coil - 24 elevation