ozawa design: double tube house

‘double tube house’ by ozawa design in kanagawa, japan all images courtesy ozawa design

‘double tube house’ by yokohama-based architects ozawa design (shun’ich ozawa, atsuko ozawa) is a two and a half storey office and residence located in kanagawa, japan. resting on a hillside, the design seeks to serve as an ‘observation tower’, establishing wide-scoping views of the natural and urban landscape beyond.

transparent face

conceived as two rectangular ‘tubes’ that double in on one another, the house features an expansive square-faced elevation that extrudes out from the concrete base. the overlapping of the forms determine internal zones and programs, generating a mezzanine level within the upper floor. a contrast in materiality – reinforced concrete and steel – creates a visual and atmospheric contrast throughout the house.

extruding form

the lower tube, constructed out of concrete, serves as the basement level of the residence while a steel frame accommodates a living space and an office. the mezzanine created in the overlap clearly differentiates between the live/work zones, providing spatial boundary to the open space. 

street elevation

interior view

mezzanine level

above the staircase

view of living / dining

concrete tube

(left) stairs from basement (right) living space

diagram

(left) schematic section (right) schematic plan

site map

floor plan / level -1

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level+1

section with magic arrows

section through site