Location: Tokyo, Japan Year of construction: 1997 Architects: Kaznyo Sejima, Ryne Nisbizawa Photography: Shinkenchiku-Sha
The site is bounded by a street to the south and by houses on the other three sides. Because these houses open onto the street, many have walls and screens around them to create a private space. The paradox of opening up a space which then had to be enclosed, meant that the relationship between the house and its surroundings and the creation of privacy were key elements of the design.
The excavation of the site and creation of a patio that lit and aerated the basement level, while at the same time linking it with the upper level, the street, and the sky, are two of the devices used to divide up the living space. The floor at street level is divided transversely by corridors, staircases, and a patio. It incorporates areas that need to be self-contained, for example the garage, the double bedroom, and the guest room. The living space on the lower floor, based on a more unitary design, is organized around the patio and characterized by freedom of movement between the different areas. The kitchen, dining room, and den are some of the areas that coexist on this level. The layout of the house has the advantage of being tailored to suit the clients, a working couple.
The architects’ work on the potential of the layout, the development of everyday activities, the screening of the house from the surrounding area, and the desire for light, air, and privacy led to the creation of this homogeneous space known as the M House, which combines all these functions by means of a complex process that produced a formal design of truly breathtaking simplicity.
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The attention to architectural detail anti the choice of lightweight materials create a restrained and sophisticated living space characterized by luminosity and elegance. As well as being functional, the layout had to :ncorporate large, flexible spaces that would be able to accommodate various activities: workrooms, dens, and a room for entertaining. Left: The light, airy patio provides a direct link with the exterior.
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The house is situated in an upper-class residential district in the center of Tokyo. The area is becoming increasingly densely populated as the building land is divided into small plots of around 2,150 sq ft (200 пт’), like the one on which the M House was built.
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Two studies, several bathrooms, and two parking spaces enable the occupants of the house to maintain their own privacy and independence. Furthermore, discussions between the architects and clients led to the conclusion that a room for entertaining would be ideal, since both partners entertain a great deal in connection with their work. A future family was also catered for in the form of a children’s room.