Katsutoshi Sasaki’s Imai house is just three metres wide

Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates built this unusually skinny house on a three-metre-wide site in a residential district of Aichi Prefecture, Japan (+ slideshow).

Katsutoshi Sasaki's Imai house is just three metres wide

To accommodate for its narrow width, the two-storey Imai house stretches out along most of the 21-metre-long plot. There was no room for corridors, so the interior is arranged as a simple sequence of rooms, one after another.

Katsutoshi Sasaki's Imai house is just three metres wide

Japanese studio Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates adapted the proportions of each space to suit its function, so the living room features a double-height ceiling while the children’s sleeping space is a 1.3-metre-high loft.

Katsutoshi Sasaki's Imai house is just three metres wide

“We adopted a way to construct a house by reinterpreting scale, natural light, and the use of each room,” said the architects.

Katsutoshi Sasaki's Imai house is just three metres wide

The ground floor is recessed to make room for a sheltered driveway at the front of the plot. Here, a wall slides open to lead into a kitchen and dining room that takes up most of the ground floor.

Katsutoshi Sasaki's Imai house is just three metres wide

A wooden staircase spirals up toward the living room, located at the centre of the first floor, while a second set of steps angles up to meet a secluded roof terrace at the front of the house.

Katsutoshi Sasaki's Imai house is just three metres wide

This terrace is fronted by large panels of glazing, which help to bring natural light and ventilation into the living room from above.

Katsutoshi Sasaki's Imai house is just three metres wide

There wasn’t enough space on the site to create a separate garden, so the architects also added a small indoor patio at the rear of the ground floor, featuring a wall that slides open.

Katsutoshi Sasaki's Imai house is just three metres wide

A long narrow space between the living room and master bedroom functions as a children’s room. The sleeping space is raised up from the floor and includes an assortment of small square windows, while built-in shelves create a study desk along the opposite wall.

Katsutoshi Sasaki's Imai house is just three metres wide

According to the architects, the rooms could become interchangeable. “The space setting becomes neutral; you can sleep, dine or relax whenever you like. For example, dining in the inner garden may be more enjoyable than in the dining room,” they said.

Katsutoshi Sasaki's Imai house is just three metres wide

Photography is by the architects.

Here’s a project description from Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates:


Imai

A house built on a narrow strip of land of 3m wide and 21m long. For this ground that looks too long and tight, we adopted a way to construct a house by reinterpreting scale, natural light, and the use of each room. Instead of setting one concept to design it, we made five specific proposals.

Katsutoshi Sasaki's Imai house is just three metres wide

1: Balancing of scale and light

Height of each room is adjusted according to the number of users and the use of the room. For example, children’s bedroom is 1.3m high while the living room is 4.4m. The room used by one person has limited natural light while the space people gather is much brighter. Balancing of scale and light brings a character to simple one room.

Katsutoshi Sasaki's Imai house is just three metres wide

2: Exterior on the edge

The ground was too narrow to allow any space for garden, so we set an inner garden at the end of the ground floor and a terrace on the north end of the second floor. High window in the living room is designed not only to let in light, but also to provide ventilation route in summer to discharge the heat accumulated up on the ceiling plane.

Katsutoshi Sasaki's Imai house is just three metres wide

3: Dismantling

By dismantling living room and dining room, we avoided large area concentrated to one place. As these spaces that have public nature are dispersed, lines of flow work effectively. Also, by de-concentrating the factors required to children’s room such as sleep, storage or study, we can reduce the floor space of children’s bedroom while sharing space for other functions of storage and study by entire family.

ImaI by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates_dezeen_18
Plans – click for larger image

4: Unrestricting

We suggested the way of living to utilise the space other than wet areas (kitchen, bathroom etc) without restricting its purpose. In some, the space setting becomes neutral; you can sleep, dine or relax whenever you like. For example, dining in inner garden may be more enjoyable than in dining room.

ImaI by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates_dezeen_17
Section – click for larger image

5: Overlapping

By overlapping multiple uses on one space, efficiency of floor space is improved. Corridor as desk space, inner garden as dining or guest room, and so on. This narrow and long building that could be described as all lines of flow, is designed as functional, effective and liberating space by applying these operations.

ImaI by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates_dezeen_16
Cross sections – click for larger image

Project name: Imai
Location: Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
Site area: 71.19 sqm
Built area: 42.64 sqm
Total floor area: 69.49 sqm
Type of construction: wooden, steel
Exterior materials: Metal finish
Interior materials: paint finish
Design team: Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates
Structure company : Tatsumi Terado Structural Studio
Construction company: Inoue construction Ltd.

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is just three metres wide
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House in Toyota Aichi by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

A tall and narrow entrance slopes down to a low and wide living space at this triangular house in Japan by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates.

House in Toyota Aichi by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Located in Toyota in Aichi Prefecture, the black wooden house is arranged between two frames at either end, one vertical and the other horizontal.

House in Toyota Aichi by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

The frames create a sloping roof and walls between them as the two-storey entrance diminishes to a single storey at the rear.

House in Toyota Aichi by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

A series of wooden frames have been arranged throughout the interior as freestanding doorways.

House in Toyota Aichi by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

At the lower end of the house is the main living area with full-length sliding windows looking out onto a train track.

House in Toyota Aichi by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

The upper floor contains two bedrooms and loft space for another bed, as well as a terrace overlooking the entrance.

House in Toyota Aichi by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Other projects by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates we’ve featured on Dezeen include a house with sliding doors between each room and a house with a triangular facade.

House in Toyota Aichi by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

See more stories about Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates »

House in Toyota Aichi by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Photographs are by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates.

House in Toyota Aichi by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Here’s some more text from the architects:


Project introduction:

Site: As the surrounding of a site, a residence stands in a row in the north-and-south side, and the east-and-west side is a place where a comparatively good field of view.

House in Toyota Aichi by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Frame (outside): For this site which has good view, we put two “frames”. One is vertical frame at east. The other is horizontal frame at west.

House in Toyota Aichi by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

The space consists of connecting the two frames. It’s a space horizontally opened while reducing height gradually and a space vertically opened while reducing a plan gradually. The “one room” is expanding vertically and horizontally.

House in Toyota Aichi by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

One room: I have an idea that the residence should be one room. However, the monotonous one room which can see the whole feels in many cases that there are few choices of an air and a life. So we have made “one room” which can connect family without seeing directly.

House in Toyota Aichi by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

We proposed preparing “the boundary of air” connecting good fields of view in the east-and-west and gaining depth and density to the space.

House in Toyota Aichi by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Frame (inside): Concretely, we use wooden frame which use auxiliary as window or door frame. We think wooden frame itself takes a part of specifying space boundary.

House in Toyota Aichi by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

It is distinguished as somewhere else at the same time the space before and behind that is connected because there is a wooden frame. It is constituted as space with moderate tolerance.

House in Toyota Aichi by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Project details
Location: Toyota Aichi Japan
Site Area: 466.49m2
Built Area: 74.52m2
Total Floor Area: 83.48m2
Type of Construction: wooden
Exterior Materials: wooden boards + oil paint finish
Interior Materials: paint finish

House in Toyota Aichi by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates_

Design time: September 2010 – September 2011
Date of completion: July 2012
Design team: Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates
Structure company: Tatsumi Terado Structural Studio
Construction company: Toyonaka Construction Ltd

The post House in Toyota Aichi by
Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates
appeared first on Dezeen.

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Japanese architects Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates have completed a four-winged house in Toyota.

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

The metal facade of the Oshikamo house conceals a timber interior and two sheltered courtyards.

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Skylights between exposed rafters let natural light into an open-plan living room at the centre of the house.

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Ladders climb up into loft bedrooms in two of the wings, above a third bedroom and a large walk-in closet.

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

The third remaining wing contains washrooms, while a space used for quiet contemplation occupies the fourth.

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

This is the third house by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates featured on Dezeen – see our earlier stories about one with rooms in separate blocks and another shaped like a triangle.

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Photography is by Toshiyuki Yano.

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Here’s a little more text from Katsutoshi Sasaki:


Oshikamo

Prerequisite

The lot is located in a residential area and is surrounded by neighboring housings, with a mother’s house on its west.

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Requests for the house include: encourages the family to spend time together (rather than isolating anyone) / spatial / bright with plenty of natural light.

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Plot

The family space is arranged at the center of the site.

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

The private space is arranged at the edge of the site, and they connect gradually by the one volume.

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Distance among rooms and curved spaces provide adequate privacy.

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Each rooms are indistinctly connected to each other via central space.

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Indistinct

That indistinct connection is the key concept of this house, expressing the spatial relationship (not on/off relationship) among the rooms. Like a photo out of focus.

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Invisible one room

You can grasp the space visually if the entire space is visible.

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

You can let your consciousness develop the space if not all is visible. Like walking in a path, not sure of what is ahead.

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Click above for larger image

Ambiguously

Spaces divided by straight lines relate to rationally. Spaces connected with curving lines relate to ambiguously. 
Like a drop of milk in coffee.

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Click above for larger image

Connection

What interests us is how rooms connect to each other, more than how a room is made.
What interests us is the “air” that curves, crosses, and diffracts. Like a cloud, constantly moving without having definite shape.

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Location: Toyota Aichi Japan
Site Area: 191.71m2
Built Area: 84.18m2
Total Floor Area: 101.94m2

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Click above for larger image

Type of Construction: Wooden
Exterior Materials: Metal finish
Interior Materials: paint finish

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Click above for larger image

Design time: June 2010 – February 2011
Year of completion: September, 2011

Oshikamo by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Design team: Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates
Structure company: Masaki structural laboratory
Construction company: Inoue construction Ltd


See also:

.

Complex House
by Tomohiro Hata
Ogaki House by
Katsutoshi Sasaki
House with Gardens
by Tetsuo Kondo

AMA House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Every room of this house in Japan by local architects Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates is contained in a separate block, connected by sliding doors.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

This allows the rooms of Small House to each have unique proportions suited to their interior functions, as well as different material finishes.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

The clustered arrangement of blocks creates two defined courtyards that form a garden and a parking area.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

More Japanese houses on Dezeen »

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Photography is by Toshiyuki Yano.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Here are some more details from the architects:


Small House

As the site is surrounded by rice fields, we planned “a small house” that the idyllic atmosphere and landscape.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

The entire volume of the house was first divided into individual rooms, their each concept were finally linked together taking account of factors such as connection of garden and room, entrance of light, ventilation, flow line of daily activities, etc.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Also, to meet with the demand for a guest parking lot and family garden, we laid out the rooms across the site to secure two exterior spaces.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Multiple Viewpoint

Each room has different volume, finish, and openings.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

These differences were made to enhance deeper experience with elements by presenting more than one viewpoint on each element; for example, when the light enters from wide opening, it gives you different impression from the thin ray of light in a dark place.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

These elements can be trees in the garden, wind, internal openness, nuance of shadows, and communications between family members.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Connected Air

When opening the door, these rooms become “One single room with connections”.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Although, unlike a general single room, it can not get a view of whole room, one room is visually connected with some and also connected with others beyond by air.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Communication is prompted among the viewable rooms by the strong connection of visual element, and with the rooms out of sight by the senses other than visual sense.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Subsequently, the light and wind streaming into a room, as well as the act and the sign of the family there are transmitted to the adjacent rooms, and are extended beyond.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Supplementary Architecture

The rooms expanded in the site functions as a house without being isolated functionally and spatially.  The important thing is that the rooms are connected.  The “connection” is formed by the persons and nature, and is not limited within the structure and the diagram of architecture.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

I think that the architecture is something that acts as a supplement of the “connected air “.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Project detail informations

Project data

Location: Aichi, Japan
Site Area: 464.0m2
Built Area: 85.92m2
Total Floor Area: 85.92m2
Type of Construction: Wooden
Exterior Materials: Metal finish
Interior Materials: Lauan board 、paint finish
Year of completion: April, 2011
Design team: Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates
Structure company  /  g2plan
Construction company / Sunshow industries ltd

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Click above for larger image

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Click above for larger image


See also:

.

Ogaki House
by Katsutoshi Sasaki
Tsumuji+Hako
by UID Architects
House in Buzen
by Suppose Design Office

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

This triangular house poking out of the ground in Gifu, Japan, is by Japanese studio Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates.

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

Called Ogaki House, all the windows and doors of the interior spaces are oriented towards a mini courtyard at the centre of the residence.

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

A bedroom, living area, pool and bathroom are located on the ground floor, with a further two bedrooms in the eaves of the upper level.

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

The shape of the house is dictated by the strong winds in the area as the triangle shape of the building reduces loads imposed on the structure.

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

The open central space allows natural ventilation, essential during the summer months.

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

Wooden grills on the floor of an open-plan loft room allows views down to the floor below.

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

Photographs are by Toshiyuki Yano.

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

More residential architecture on Dezeen »

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

The following information is from the architects:


This residential house is introduced from the ambient surrounding and the conditions of site planning.

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

In winter seasons, the strong west wind (the fall wind of Ibuki) blows in this area so it is the plan of suppressing the load of the building by extending its roof up to the close to the ground soil and fending off cold winds at the roof.

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

In summer seasons, it is the structure that discharges the accumulated heat inside to the outside through the VOID of the inner court and the central VOID installed various parts.

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

The openings face only to the courtyards in the east and west of the site and there is none in the north and south.

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

This way heat penetration in summer and heat loss in winter via the openings can be controlled.

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

Living rooms and patios are arranged in turn inside the triangle volume, which makes an explicit proposal about closeness between life and nature.

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

However, the most important feature in the house design should be how communication among family members can be assured.

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

For that matter, the design has many elements to encourage communication; for example, a kitchen facing the entrance (to provide an opportunity for a mother to meet her children when they come home), a children’s room spreading throughout the second floor (four daughters share it), and an open ceiling space (a louver type floor) which the voices of family members can get through.

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

Considering the site context, external elements, heat environment, family communication, structure plan and cost, I decided to select a triangle design.

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

Click for larger image

Project information

Location: Gifu Japan
Site Area: 130.64m2
Built Area: 74.54m2

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

Total Floor Area: 106.42m2
Type of Construction: Wooden
Exterior Materials: Wood siding

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

Click for larger image

Interior Materials: Lauan board
year of completion :July, 2010
Design team: Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Ogaki House by Katsutoshi Sasaki and Associates

Click for larger image

Structure company / Masaki structural laboratory
Construction company / Tamada construction Ltd


See also:

.

House in Fukawa by
Suppose Design Office
Stairs-House by
y+M Design Office
Belly House by
Tomohiro Hata