EANA: house in shimoda

‘house in shimoda-chou’ by EANA, kanagawa prefecture, japanimage © koichi torimuraall images courtesy of EANA

situated in the dense urban context just south of yokohama, the ‘house in shimoda-chou’ is a true matrioshka assembly of structures, a house within a dwelling within a home. yokohama-based practice EANA creates a residence defined by three distinct containers where the living space is not onlyencapsulated within the layers but also marked by the interstitial spaces. the ground floor contains the entrance courtyard and a small white volumethat contains the official front door. a larger natural wood-clad skin divides the public entry space from three bedrooms and service functions, creating a space for vertical circulation in the peripheral voids. a staircase around the core mass leads to a small loft space with a skylight that communicates to other zones of the construct. continuing upwards brings the user to the wooden loft space that contains the main social living area.setback within the walls of the exterior shell wrapped in metal siding, the wooden loft acts almost as a balcony looking over the ground plane.the outer timber-frame membrane is wrapped in metal siding and dotted with various windows that assure a day-lit interior.

entry walkwayimage © koichi torimura

entrance exposing the three layers of structuresimage © koichi torimura

entrance vestibule with concrete pavers lead to the first bedroomimage © koichi torimura

(left) stairs in the peripheral spaces(right) a skylight brings light through the internal structuresimage © koichi torimura

bedroom and entrance areaimage © koichi torimura

peripheral corridorsimage © koichi torimura

stairs from the core volume to the loftimage © koichi torimura

view from the ground floorimage © koichi torimura

top loftimage © koichi torimura

a glass walkway runs around the perimeter of the loft, allowing light and views to the lower areasimage © koichi torimura

image © koichi torimura

light filled areaimage © koichi torimura

entranceimage © koichi torimura

image © koichi torimura

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level 1

floor plan / level 2

section

axonometric

project info:

 location: yokohama city, kanagawa,japan
principal use: family house
client: non disclosure
construction: eiko kensetsu 
main structure: timber construction 
site area: 175.10 m2
building area: 77.80 m2
total floor area: 142.60m2 completion: january. 2012
design period: february. 2011 – July. 2011
construction period: august. 2011-january. 2012
project team: EANA | kohei iwasaki,tota abe