Black Monolithic Wall Residential House by Nobuaki Miyashita is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 Silver A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design Competition Category.
SilverArchitecture· 2024
Black Monolithic Wall Residential House
Client: MR Studio Co., Ltd.
Silver A' Design Award Winner in Architecture Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #160459The Design
About Black Monolithic Wall Residential House
This sculptural black residence was planned in a quiet residential area of Tokyo. The site is narrow at the entrance and elongates towards the back, forming a slender shape. While complying with Japanese architectural regulations, such as shadow regulation on neighboring lands and building height restrictions, the design aims to create dynamic spaces that capitalize on this slender site shape. The approach features a monolithic black wall integrated with the architecture, making the exterior appearance striking, while the cantilevered stairs leading to the entrance enrich the sequence.
The Recognition
About the Silver A' Design Award
Black Monolithic Wall Residential House is a Silver A' Design Award winner, an extraordinarily prestigious recognition granted to top-of-the-line, gorgeous, and impressive designs. Silver winners are tremendously brilliant and exceedingly creative works that illustrate the outstanding expertise, talent, and acuity of their designers. Black Monolithic Wall Residential House is expected to be a wonderful, showpiece work that is remarkably professional and profoundly innovative. This Silver A' Design Award-winning design is a highly notable, admired invention that benefits and advances the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology. Black Monolithic Wall Residential House is a vastly envied creation that evokes desires, introduces positive feelings, and sparks amazement and wonderment.
Where to Get It
Award-Winning Architectural Design Services for Tokyo
We transform challenging sites into extraordinary living spaces through innovative architectural solutions. With expertise in residential, commercial, and institutional projects, our Tokyo-based studio creates site-specific designs that maximize space while respecting Japanese building regulations. International recognition validates our approach to sculptural, functional architecture.
Discuss Your ProjectInterviews
Design Interview
What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
I was inspired by the challenge of maximizing dynamic living space on a narrow, flagpole-shaped lot in Tokyo. My aim was to transform these constraints into a sculptural and functional design element.
What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
My focus was on creating a seamless integration of architectural elements like stairs and lighting into the boundary wall, enhancing the functionality and aesthetic of the space while adhering to strict building regulations.
What are your future plans for this award winning design?
I plan to refine this concept further in my future projects, adapting it to different site conditions and exploring new materials and technologies.
Grand Interview
Your innovative approach to maximizing space in the Black Monolithic Wall Residential House, particularly with the semi-buried first floor, presents a fascinating solution to Tokyo's strict building regulations - could you elaborate on how this architectural decision shaped the overall living experience?
The semi-buried first floor in the Black Monolithic Wall Residential House was a deliberate architectural response to Tokyo’s stringent building regulations and limited site dimensions. By partially sinking the first floor, we maximized the interior volume while complying with height restrictions. This approach created a private, secluded living area, sheltered from neighboring buildings and street noise. The underground design also contributes to thermal stability, keeping the living space naturally cooler during summer and warmer in winter. This arrangement elevates the living experience by providing a peaceful, private environment that remains closely connected to the exterior through the tsubo-niwa, which brings natural light and ventilation into the semi-buried floor.
The striking monolithic black wall that defines the Black Monolithic Wall Residential House creates a powerful first impression - what inspired your decision to integrate functional elements like stairs, meter box, and lighting into this singular architectural feature?
The monolithic black wall that defines this residence serves both an aesthetic and functional purpose. Integrating elements like the stairs, meter box, and lighting into this singular architectural feature was inspired by the idea of creating a seamless, sculptural entry sequence. I wanted the wall to act as more than just a boundary—it’s an invitation and a guide, leading residents and visitors up to the elevated entrance while unifying the space’s various functional needs into one cohesive element. This approach reinforces the home's minimalist, monolithic theme, creating a powerful visual statement that blends functionality with architectural expression.
The three-dimensional composition of the Black Monolithic Wall Residential House transforms a challenging flag-shaped lot into an engaging journey - how did you envision and develop this sequential experience from the narrow entrance to the interior spaces?
Designing a journey from the narrow entrance to the interior spaces in the Black Monolithic Wall Residential House was an opportunity to create an immersive, sequential experience. Given the flag-shaped lot with limited front width, we envisioned the approach as a processional path, using the monolithic wall as both a boundary and a guide. Visitors are drawn in through the narrow entryway, their anticipation heightened as they move along the elongated passage that gradually opens up into the main living spaces. This spatial composition turns a challenging lot into an engaging, layered experience, giving the narrow site depth and a sense of discovery as one moves through the home.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- This is a custom house plan for a parent and their child. Although the site is located relatively close to central Tokyo, its neighbor is a quiet residential area. It is an extremely narrow flag lot with no more than two meters wide portion fronting the road. Our aim was to create a dynamic space which can only be formed on a site with unique characteristics like this as well as to meet the strict building regulations in Japan.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Site area: 84.39 m2
Building area: 48.82 m2
Total floor area: 114.60 m2
Number of floors: Ground 3 floors
1st floor: 50.47 m2
2nd floor: 50.38 m2
3rd floor: 28.56 m2
Height: Maximum height 9.38 m
Structure: wooden - Tags
- House, Residence, wooden, Japan, Tokyo
- Production Technology
- The residential space is consisted of three layers. In order to provide a maximum volume of interior space while meeting the building height regulation, half of the first floor height is buried below ground level. The second floor is planned to be used as guest rooms, part of the public space. The void in the center runs through the second floor to the dining area on the third floor.
- Design Challenge
- In the typical design, disadvantaged by a narrow and elongated approach space, we were able to create a rich experience that entices visitors deeper into the property through a three-dimensional composition centered around an architectural boundary wall, 3 meters in height, integrated with the main residential volume in a sculptural form. This approach has successfully materialized an engaging journey for visitors.
- Research
- Research Objective: To maximize living space while clearing the strict height restrictions (sunlight regulation) on the north side of the site, the first floor is partially buried underground. Method: The underground portion is constructed with a concrete framework and undergoes special waterproofing treatment. Results: It was possible to ensure sufficient ceiling height on each floor. The dining room has a height of 3600 mm, and the bedrooms also maintain a height of 2900 mm.
- Inspiration
- First, to leverage the long, flagpole-shaped layout of the site, we envisioned the approach space as a sculptural design integrated with the architecture. Along the site boundary, we inserted a single boundary wall and designed it to incorporate elements such as stairs, a meter box, a mailbox, and lighting. This boundary wall will lead visitors to the second-floor entrance, providing a rich spatial experience along the way.
- Project Duration
- This project was completed in September 2020. The site is situated in a quiet residential area of Tokyo, yet it features an extremely dense layout of buildings. The conditions for access to the main road are strict, with only a mere 2 meters of frontage, resulting in a very narrow and elongated shape of the plot. The rear of the property is slightly wider, forming a typical flagpole-shaped site that resulted from land division.
- Operation Flow
- The first floor is a semi-basement, comprising a private space that includes the master bedroom, studio, and bathroom. In the bathroom, there is a jetted bathtub facing the tsubo-niwa, a small Japanese-style courtyard garden, with sunlight gently pouring in through the window. An overhead shower head, the width of one's shoulders, provides a relaxing bathing experience. The tsubo-niwa also serves as a light well, allowing wind and light to permeate each floor, creating a comfortable living environment.
- Patents
- none
- Image Credits
- Image #1-#5: Photographer Nobuaki Miyashita, Variations, 2021
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