A House Made of Two / naf architect & design

© Toshiyuki Yano / Nacasa & Partners

Architects: Akio Nakasa / naf architect & design
Location: Kanagawa, Japan
Program: single family residence
Site area: 250.21 sqm
Building area: 105.88 sqm
Total floor area: 179.11 sqm
Project Year: 2009
Photographs: Toshiyuki Yano / Nacasa & Partners

This is a project of one family living in two houses built slightly apart from one another.

One great volume of a house which covers the entire plot was supposed first.

model diagrams
sections

Then this volume was carved in a curve in three segments and two volumes at the both ends were built as two houses on the site.

The structures and finishing materials of two houses are standardized to emphasis the relations of two volumes being originally from “one great volume” and that they are one though apart. Carved volume in the middle became a courtyard leading to the approach to two houses.

© Toshiyuki Yano / Nacasa & Partners

Having another house for movies at night, overnight guests or work at home allows the inhabitants the liberty to do what they please at a time they want.  This distance between two houses may be just right for inviting grandparents to move in someday or providing privacy to children at puberty.

© Toshiyuki Yano / Nacasa & Partners

The purpose of building two houses slightly apart is not the same as that of having a villa at a resort or a farm household having a main building and a barn.

This project is an experiment for allowing more life style options in the life based in the urban area.

Cite: "A House Made of Two / naf architect & design" 17 Feb 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 21 May 2013. <http://www.archdaily.com/49900>

27 comments

  1. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    Hmm. Somehow its funny design, but to the interriors lack of teh strong idea, as exterrior.

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  2. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    My moderation at last!
    Agree with you kt…
    External structure should be in reiforcement concrete. That way internal space could be without ugy dark columns and beams.

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  6. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    @Ma…
    sorry but they may have wanted these beams
    I find them really nice, it is a house, not a club nor sportshall, no problem with having columns inside

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  7. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    I really really like this actually. I think the exposed structure is captivating, a tip of the hat to historical modernism while being designed in a more contemporary modernist idea. Wonderful pallet, nifty idea splitting one house into two, and great execution. I’d love to live there :)

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  9. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    I agree with Trevdor. Very nice project, and set into the neighborhood context in a nice way. I like the parking solution too.

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  10. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    So when I want to go to my hobby room I have to cross maybe rainy open space and the guestroom first? Missing link here, imho.

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  12. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    The courtyard focusing on the neighbor’s palisade is very disturbing. By using the same materials for the ‘cut’ facades and for the others, the concept, basic and very formal, is not so understandable…

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  14. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    Sorry Thom… but FOR ME having or not columns inside,in this house,is not functional but esthetical matter.

    Reply
  15. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    Interesting work. I think Mr. Nakasas goal was not creation of perfect design of the interior . It is the minor question how pillars are made

    Reply

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