alphaville’s three-storey dwelling in osaka has no internal doorways
photo by shigeo ogawa
all images courtesy of alphaville architects

 

 

 

japanese architecture office alphaville, led by kentaro takeguchi and asako yamamoto, has completed a three storey dwelling in the densely populated city of osaka. the residence, uniquely named ‘dig in the sky’, is composed of three individual buildings that sandwich two external courtyards – bringing daylight into the narrow plot. as each of the three volumes only contains one room on each floor, a tube-shaped corridor was devised in order to connect the entirety of the scheme. consequently, each room is separated by circulation space, rather than orthodox doorways. 

alphaville dig in the sky osaka japan designboom
an elevated area at ground level provides parking the space for a car
photo by shigeo ogawa

 

 

 

within the design, a guest room is found at ground floor level, with primary living accommodation located above, alongside a bedroom for two children and a small study space. at the uppermost level of the plan, the master bedroom is joined by a bathroom, while an external balcony provides further natural light and ventilation.

alphaville dig in the sky osaka japan designboom
the building is perched on a series of slender white piloti
photo by shigeo ogawa

alphaville dig in the sky osaka japan designboom
looking upwards from ground floor level
photo by shigeo ogawa

alphaville dig in the sky osaka japan designboom
the home’s kitchen and dining room is found at first floor level
photo by shigeo ogawa

alphaville dig in the sky osaka japan designboom
communal living accommodation
photo by shigeo ogawa

alphaville dig in the sky osaka japan designboom
the children’s bedroom is located at the same storey
photo by shigeo ogawa

alphaville dig in the sky osaka japan designboom
the master bedroom is located in a separate part of the plan
photo by shigeo ogawa

alphaville dig in the sky osaka japan designboom
the residence is composed of three individual structures that sandwich two external courtyards
photo by shigeo ogawa

 

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project info:

 

name: dig in the sky
architects: alphaville – kentaro takeguchi + asako yamamoto
project team: tomohisa koike
structural engineer: s3 associates inc. – ichiro hashimoto, shunya takahashi
type: residential
location: osaka, japan
site area: 83.69 sqm
building area: 58.78 sqm
total floor area: 151.65 sqm (exterior: 52.17 sqm, interior: 99.48 sqm)
building scale: 3 storeys
structure system: steel
photography: shigeo ogawa