‘what categorizes the city and me’ by ON design partners, tokyo, japanimage © koichi torimuraall images courtesy of ON design partners

 

 

 

japanese studio ON design partners has recently finished the private residence titled ‘what categorizes the city and me’ in chofu, tokyo, on the threshold of a dense park with a small shrine. the archetypical house typology in section is divided into a mosaic of stacked spaces, extruded to create shelf-like structures that are completely open to the front and back of the house, forming a slightly differing relationship between the user and the town in each room.

 

the entry level is set below grade and contains the studio and coat room, with access to the back yard. the first floor has a bedroom, kitchen and a section characterized by tatami mats. the final storey is a mezzanine level looking out over the kitchen area and houses the children’s room, with access to the rooftop terrace. the structure consists of stacked masonry concrete block, beveled at the ends and capped with large glass panels that show the delineation of each room on the exterior. the interior is coated in smooth neutral-toned plaster contrasted by dark wood floors, wall panels, and furniture.

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 2(left) front elevation with semi-basement (right) entry gardenimages © koichi torimura

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 3back elevation facing the parkimage © koichi torimura

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 4entry deckimage © koichi torimura

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 5studio/storageimage © koichi torimura

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 6entry corridorimage © koichi torimura

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 7image © koichi torimura

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 8tatami roomimage © koichi torimura

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 9dining areaimage © koichi torimura

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 10kitchen and tatami roomimage © koichi torimura

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 11kitchenimage © koichi torimura

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 12master bedroom and bathroomimage © koichi torimura

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 13kids room from the rooftop deck entranceimage © koichi torimura

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 14kid’s bedroomimage © koichi torimura

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 15mezzanine levelimage © koichi torimura

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 16rooftop terraceimage © koichi torimura

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 17image © koichi torimura

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 18image © koichi torimura

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 19image © koichi torimura

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 20site plan

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 21floor plan / level 0

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 22floor plan / level 1

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 23floor plan / level 2

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 24section

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 25section

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 26section

 

 

ON design partners: what categorizes the city and me - 27concept sketch