Nobuaki Miyashita · CLIENT: Aida Sekkei Co., Ltd.
Urban Prism is a three-story house built in a dense urban area of Tokyo, Japan. The wood structure covers a total floor area of 127.82 square meters on a site of 100.13 square meters. Boundary walls and a gate form a buffer zone that brings light and air into the interior. A courtyard extends the living room outdoors, and adjustable screens control privacy and daylight. Textured fiber cement siding clads the exterior, while oak flooring, steel and glass shape the interior. The sculptural form responds to local height and setback regulations.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Urban Prism balances privacy and openness in a dense urban setting. The design utilizes boundary walls and a gate to create a buffer zone filled with light and air, seamlessly connecting the interior and exterior. Japan’s strict height and setback regulations shaped its refined, sculptural form. A courtyard extends the living space, while adjustable screens regulate privacy and daylight. Black bamboo and upward lighting enhance the entrance, evoking a Japanese aesthetic.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Site Area: 100.13 Square meters
Building Area: 57.64 Square meters
Total Floor Area: 127.82 Square meters
Structure: Wood
Number of Floors: 3 above ground
Eaves Height: 8.53 m
Ceiling Height: 2.50 m - Tags
- architecture, house, urban design, natural light, spatial composition, sustainable living
- Production Technology
- The house employs durable materials suited to urban environments. Textured fiber cement siding accentuates light and shadow interplay, reinforcing depth. The interior harmonizes solid wood, steel, and glass, blending modernity with warmth. Oak flooring enhances the tactile experience. High-performance insulated glass and movable screens optimize daylight, ventilation, and privacy. The exterior cladding ensures longevity, requiring minimal maintenance over time.
- Design Challenge
- The greatest challenge was balancing privacy and openness within strict urban zoning constraints. Japan’s stringent height and setback regulations required innovative volumetric manipulation to maximize livable space. Socially, the project had to address urban density while maintaining tranquility. Externally, material selection was limited by durability and maintenance concerns. Advanced simulations optimized daylight and airflow, ensuring a harmonious spatial experience.
- Project Duration
- The project was completed in 2019 in Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan.
- Operation Flow
- Smooth circulation and spatial layering create a dynamic living experience. The atrium channels natural light and air throughout the house, shifting in ambiance with time. Adjustable screens and staggered walls allow residents to control privacy and exposure. The courtyard functions as an outdoor extension of the living room, enhancing spatial fluidity. Black bamboo and illuminated surfaces establish a serene entryway, linking nature with contemporary design.
- Research
- Type of Research: Architectural design research
Research Objectives: Optimization of urban housing through spatial and environmental adaptability
Methodology: Model testing, daylight and airflow simulations
Data Collection: On-site analysis, material performance tests
Results: Established a refined approach to urban privacy, integrating zoning constraints into design solutions - Inspiration
- The project transforms zoning constraints into design potential, integrating privacy, natural light, and spatial expansion. The home’s multi-layered structure fosters an interplay between openness and enclosure, adapting flexibly to its surroundings. Carefully arranged volumes and walls create a dynamic sequence of spaces. The design embraces traditional Japanese elements, reinterpreted through contemporary architectural language to enhance urban living.
- Image Credits
- Image #1, #2,#3, #4, #5: Photographer Nobuaki Miyashita, Variations, 2019
- Patents
- N/A
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