reversible shutter façade clads narrow house by motoki ishikawa architect in tokyo

House in Morishita by Motoki Ishikawa Architect

Within an industrial area near the Sumida River in Tokyo, Japan, Motoki Ishikawa Architect & Associates has built a small home that stands out from its surroundings of old-fashioned stores. The project, called House in Morishita, emphasizes verticality to create a cozy, comfortable living environment on the narrow lot. The front of the house features a reversible shutter façade that allows residents to enjoy generous outside views while gifting the structure with an ever-changing exterior.

the design creates a comfortable environment on the narrow lot | all images courtesy of Motoki Ishikawa Architect & Associates | photos by Masao Nishikawa

floating floors connecting through a fluid staircase

One of the clients is a professional opera singer, who asked Motoki Ishikawa Architect for a space where music could be played. The property is located near an area prone to flooding, so the Japanese design team decided to build the first floor in reinforced concrete to make it safe and also provide soundproofing. The upper floors are made of a lightweight mixed wood construction.

Due to the confinement of the space, the structure consists of a group of interconnected floating floors connected by an airy staircase that presents itself as a fluid line within the residence. The design creates a horizontal depth through the steps and a vertical openness through the gaps. From the outside, the upper part of the house features a bench positioned there to create a ‘vertical direction without dead ends’. This element directs the view outside to the sky and contributes to the openness of the house.

the front of the house features a reversible shutter façade