shigeru ban architects: house at hanegi park

‘house at hanegi park’ by shigeru ban architects in tokyo, japan image © hiroyuki hirai

japanese practice shigeru ban architects has completed ‘house at hanegi park’, a single family residence located in tokyo, japan. the distinctive appearance allows a majority of the openings to be graciously unfolded to the exterior elements transforming the interior into an airy and fresh space. the intricate program arrangement shelters personal rooms from the highly experiential communal areas.

exterior from street image © hiroyuki hirai

at the street entrance, a screen consisting of steel cables is covered with climbing vegetation generating a contrasting texture to the surrounding urban hardscape. this simultaneously provides increased privacy by blocking the views for lower level interior rooms. from the ground level, dwellers are encouraged to climb the open zigzag stairs to the mezzanine and are presented with a corridor leading to the kitchen. upon leaving the compressed hallway, a double height room bounded by two large openings viewing outward is encountered.

exterior stair leading to first floor image © hiroyuki hirai

the street facing window is bounded by the intersection of a vertical and curving wall producing the prominent quartered roof form. dividing the configuration is a horizontal rectangular fenestration containing sliding panes which can be overlapped and concealed to completely ventilate the elevated dining space. the essential kitchen functions are stored within steel panels which become expressed on the home’s facade. the opposite opening is enclosed by a vertical wall and pitched roof. the ceiling spanning this volume gradients from a curved to a linear shape, uniformly decreasing its radius to allow the structural framework to be composed of four main elements with horizontal connecting members.

living room with sliding glass doors closed image © hiroyuki hirai