naoya kawabe architect & associates: kaminoge house

‘kaminoge house’ by naoya kawabe architects and associates, tokyo, japan images courtesy of naoya kawabe architects and associates

japanese practice naoya kawabe architects and associates has created ‘kaminoge house’, a multi-family residential complex in tokyo, japan. meandering around the landscape, the stark-but-slight white volumes contrast their surrounding environment, their jagged lines peaking above the encompassing neighborhood.

passageways

looking to provide each dwelling with a connection to the outdoors, the design consists of three pivoting, interconnected buildings, which maximize exposure to daylight and the encircling landscape and privacy within each unit. exaggerated thresholds and passageways generate a layered complex that gently separates the confines of each home.

(left) meandering structures (right) staggered windows and doorways

structured around three stairways, the private units feature distinct and unique plans that differ in size and organization. ranging from studio spaces to multi-bedroom units, the raw and enclosed habitats are often loft-like in their arrangements with open and overlapping programs. windows are placed thoughtfully around the building, opening onto courtyards and the surroundings rather than onto opposing residences.

loft-like private dwelling

living space of multi-bedroom unit

entrance to unit and stairway to upper level

open living space

back

in context

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level 1

floor plan / level 2

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