hideaki takayanagi: life in spiral
‘life in spiral’ by hideaki takayanagi, tokyo, japan all images courtesy of hideaki takayanagi
‘life in spiral’, a dwelling by tokyo-based practice hideaki takayanagi, explores the concept of opening and closing towards the city of tokyo, japan. a narrow site dictated a four-storey dwelling, introducing a 3-dimensional engawa in the form of a ribbon which winds its way through the centralized vertical circulation, also creating perimeter rooms along the glazed facade. providing shade throughout the interior, the angled partial wall defines and separates the rooms while allowing daylight to enter.
stackable vertical shutters along the perimeter glass offer privacy to inhabitants as desired, allowing either a transparent window or a screened wall to exist, producing a serendipitous relationship with daily activity within the home and inward views from passersby.
street elevation
aerial view
aerial view of roof
(left) ground level study (right) first floor dining room
kitchen + dining
floor to ceiling window opens to outdoors while a glass panel protects inhabitants from falling
view of dining + living area from kitchen
living area
(left) stairs (right) bathroom on second level
sink
master bathroom
bedroom
view into the ground level study
spiraling stairway
model
model of interior program
model detail
study model
site plan
floor plan / level 0
floor plan / level 1
floor plan / level 2
floor plan / level -1
roof plan
section
spiral detail
wall section detail
project info:
project name: life in spiral location: tokyo, jpn plot size: 50.0sq. meter built area: 29.8sq. meter total floor area: 109sq. meter
hideaki takayanagi (2 articles)
hideaki takayanagi builds tashiro 71 housing complex in nagoya
architecture news
oppenheim architecture mimics switzerland's hillside villages with lago maggiore retreat
#architecture
designed to span three sites that each rise above the alpine lake, the retreat celebrates unique and varied spirit of its context.
designed to span three sites that each rise above the alpine lake, the retreat celebrates unique and varied spirit of its context.
terrazzo sections + curved corners complete modernist apartment interior in vietnam
#architecture
the design reminisces about architect louis kahn’s aesthetics, especially the material sensation of terrazzo that was prevalent in saigon in the 1950s and 60s.
the design reminisces about architect louis kahn’s aesthetics, especially the material sensation of terrazzo that was prevalent in saigon in the 1950s and 60s.
teardrop-shaped tents in belgium let you spend a night hanging from the trees
#architecture
blurring the line between sculpture and architecture, the structures are the work of dutch artist dre wapenaar.
blurring the line between sculpture and architecture, the structures are the work of dutch artist dre wapenaar.
bold sloping cube welcomes visitors to second-hand clothing store in st. petersburg, russia
#architecture
appearing in the middle of the entrance hall, the interesting cube clads a hidden staircase leading to the rest of the shop.
appearing in the middle of the entrance hall, the interesting cube clads a hidden staircase leading to the rest of the shop.
v Jul 14, 2012 
raymond Jul 12, 2012 
LEX V. Jul 12, 2012 
samu Jul 11, 2012 
rcvs1 Jul 10, 2012
more commentsDoes Designboom feature any architecture other than Japanese? OMG. Enough all ready. We get it. Japanese lines are clean and crisp and might I add, BORING!
in the future when the majority of houses will be like this one , you sayers of “how can somebody live like this” , “it is like a puplic display” , etc , will be recalled by us as the backward minded ones in the history. Be sure about that.
Congratulations to the architect’s team
This place is one of a kind, could be as private as you may like, clean lines everywhere, strategically built to conceal the master bathroom, the only thing i could call ”wasted space” is the roof, they could have built a really nice garden to relax.
Japanese habitually look away from other people’s privacy because of the strong self-control. That is, the more they open their house, the more they get free from other people’s view.
This is brilliant. Elegant and I love the simplicity of the exterior form.