[ad_1]
Text description provided by the architect. The site is located on the road to the famous shrine, on the edge of Tokyo’s Yushima Plateau. In recent years, many of the area’s hotels have been replaced by apartment complexes due to the rapid transformation of the area’s character. Two complexities of the site were important factors in the design – the shape of the plot and the lighting conditions created by the high-rise buildings surrounding it from three directions. By wrapping the curved volume around a central void, each residential unit gains access to light, wind and views.
The courtyard in the center of the building grew dark. To revitalize the space and make it more welcoming, we implemented three key strategies to introduce light and a sense of openness. First, we minimized the number of corridors along the contours of the courtyard to reduce shadow formation. By transforming the end of each corridor into a duplex residential unit spanning two floors, we effectively divided the corridors. Secondly, we created side openings facing the courtyard that serve as public areas and balconies for the residences. These openings allow light and air to enter from all directions around the courtyard. Thirdly, we applied textures adapted to the 30-meter-high wall to enhance the perception of even the slightest light. By applying materials to the formwork that would not be suitable for typical construction, we aimed to achieve a linear yet irregular appearance.
Currently, access to the courtyard is limited to residents. However, taking into account the development of the area and the life expectancy of the buildings, the courtyard is designed to evolve into a public space in the future and propose activities such as co-working spaces, shops, cafes or markets. The formwork for the courtyard is made from Japanese cedar logs from the “Wood Station Project” in Mitake City, Chiba Prefecture. The initiative aims to maintain healthy forests by acquiring thin wood and forest residues from forest owners at clearing points called “timber stations.”
Forestry has faced difficulties in recent years due to the spread of fungal diseases, which cause permanent grooves and weakening of tree trunks. By discovering the value of these materials, we aim to make a small contribution to forestry practice. During construction, the logs were cut into 15mm pieces, leaving the bark on one side and fixed to plywood to form the formwork. This technique allowed us to capture the organic shapes and contours of the logs into the concrete, resulting in a courtyard filled with various interplays of light and shadow.
Ultimately, the shape of the courtyard adds a spatial impression similar to that of a church in ruins, bringing interest and depth to this magnificent space, designed to give residents and visitors a break from their daily lives.
[ad_2]
Source link