Alp / Akihisa Hirata

© Toshiyuki Yano

Architects: Akihisa Hirata
Location: Kita, Tokyo,
Site area: 294,02 sqm
Built area: 161,92 sqm
Total floor area: 499 sqm
Project Year: 2008-2010
Photographs: Toshiyuki Yano

diagram 01
© Toshiyuki Yano

This is housing project in Tokyo. We would like to rethink the architecture not as the act to produce an area like a box, but as a folded surface created by the movement of the ground. Here, the balance of the pressure between the inside and the outside produces the bumped walls or roofs, which creates one big volume with subtle division.

© Toshiyuki Yano

One can approach each house from exterior corridor, created by the dent of the volume. We can see the jostle between the inside and the outside in each rooms for example, the direct shape of roofs, diagonal protruding created by external stairs or distortion of the space by the folded walls.

first floor plan
second floor plan
third floor plan
* Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
Cite: "Alp / Akihisa Hirata" 24 Oct 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 22 May 2013. <http://www.archdaily.com/83724>

18 comments

  2. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    well very nicely done but i think this time form really got over function. those stairs in the middle of the room, looks like they make a good place for one to bang his head.this is a house that realy wanted to be diffrent – well it sure is not so sure if it is better thow

    Reply
  4. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    Suttle division, i don’t think so
    Intresting ideea, but it didn’t work out in the end.
    Too bad.

    Reply
  5. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    Looks great from the outside, but I agree with daniel. Although I really like the form inside i feel that that goal can still be achieved even after taking some details out

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  7. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    And humans actually live there ??? The challenge that faces Architecture is also to be acessible , and that does not mean that it must have a front door , but it wil help .

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  8. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    Mostly I agree with Daniel.
    The concept is really interesting but you threw it all away by “planting” a massive stair in the middle of a room.
    Although I do understand the layout of the several floors, with this shape you really needed more cross sections to see what you were doing, prior to be concerned with the plants.
    The idea should have been more developed.

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  9. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    I agree with Hendre Pitout. It looks beautiful, especially the first photo, but I am not sure the house has warm feeling to it.
    Can we get the owners write a comment same time next year?

    Reply
  12. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    Hi!
    I’m an italian student from University of Florence. This project is very interesting and I would like to use it for a graphic exam. Is it possible to have the drawings about all facades? Otherwise where I can find them?

    Thank you so much!!

    Reply
  14. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    hi anyone, I was just checkin’ out this blog and I really like the basis of the article, and have nothing to do, so if anyone wants to have an engaging chat about it, please contact me on squidoo, my name is louie meautle

    Reply

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