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Black Monolithic Wall 住宅 by Nobuaki Miyashita

Black Monolithic Wall 住宅 by Nobuaki Miyashita is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 A' Design Award 銀賞 in 建築・建物・構造物デザイン Competition Category.


銀建築· 2024

Black Monolithic Wall 住宅

by Nobuaki Miyashita

Client: MR Studio Co., Ltd.

A' Design Award 銀賞 Winner in 建築 Category

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The Design

About Black Monolithic Wall 住宅

この彫刻的な黒い住宅は、東京の閑静な住宅街に計画された。敷地は入口が狭く奥に向かって細長く伸びる、スレンダーな形状をしている。隣地への日影規制や建築物の高さ制限といった日本の建築法規を遵守しながら、この細長い敷地形状を活かしたダイナミックな空間の創出を目指した設計である。アプローチには建築と一体化したモノリシックな黒い壁を配し、外観に印象的な佇まいを与えるとともに、玄関へと導くキャンチレバーの階段がシークエンスを豊かにしている。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 銀賞

Black Monolithic Wall 住宅は、見事で印象的なハイエンドのデザインに授与される、非常に権威ある評価である A' Design Award 銀賞の受賞作品です。銀賞の受賞作品は、きわめて輝かしく創造性に富んだ作品であり、デザイナーの傑出した専門知識、才能、洞察力を示しています。Black Monolithic Wall 住宅は、素晴らしい代表作であり、驚くほどプロフェッショナルで、深く革新的であることが期待されます。この A' Design Award 銀賞を受賞したデザインは、非常に注目すべき称賛される発明であり、芸術・科学・デザイン・技術の境界に寄与し、それを前進させます。Black Monolithic Wall 住宅は、多くの人に羨まれる創造物であり、欲求を呼び覚まし、前向きな感情をもたらし、驚きと感嘆を灯します。

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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