Satoshi Kurosaki Apollo 株式会社APOLLO一級建築士事務所

ESPACE House

ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa

ESPACE HOUSE

APOLLO Architects & Associates

FACILITY ENGINEER
Naoki Matsumoto

CONSTRUCTIONS
Kimura Ryozo Construction

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Kenta Masaki, Masaki Structure

LIGHTING DESIGN
Sirius Lighting Office

ARCHITECTURE
Satoshi Kurosaki

VIDEOGRAPHER
Seiya Aoki | Grafilm

PHOTOGRAPHS
Masao Nishikawa

AREA
98 M²

TOTAL FLOOR AREA
98.02 M2

BUILDING AREA
50.79 M2

SITE AREA
77.68 M2

YEAR
2022

LOCATION
Shinagawa City, Japan

CATEGORY
Houses

Text description provided by architect.

This small two-story, wood-frame house is tucked into a downtown residential neighborhood.

ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa
ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa
ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa

The clients, a couple with minimalist taste and few superfluous possessions, wanted a private home on the compact lot that prioritized a spacious atmosphere over physically large rooms.

The lot abuts the north side of a narrow road and is hemmed in by closely packed houses.

To preserve privacy in this environment, the façade facing the street has no windows; all-natural light comes from a courtyard and clerestory windows.

ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa
ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa

We used a rigid wood frame to make the most efficient use of the frontage. 

The gate-shaped frame avoids the need for load-bearing walls on the north side of the house, allowing for three windows to occupy the full width of that side, with a row of clerestory windows above.

ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa
ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa

Built-in wall storage takes advantage of the shape of the frame’s posts, making the space functional even without additional furniture.

The most striking feature of the house, however, is the daylight. In the family room that occupies the whole of the second floor, the three north-side windows let in soft, diffuse light.

ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa
ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa

Meanwhile, direct southern sunlight shines in along the sloped roof and is reflected off a wall into the room, brightening the area near the windows.

This light filters through floor grating onto the first floor, where the bedroom and bathroom are located.

ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa
ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa

In addition, light pours through clerestory windows running the length of the north side, casting beautiful gradations on the sloped gable ceiling, and ensuring that the kitchen at the back of the house receives adequate light.

By treating the entire building as a reflector, we succeeded in creating a separate universe of diffuse light that makes the rooms feel spacious and echoes the uniquely tranquil character of the residents.

ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa


ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa
ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa
ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa
ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa
ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa
ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa
ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa
ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa
ESPACE House
© Masao Nishikawa


ESPACE House
North & South Elevations
ESPACE House
Sections


ESPACE House
Floor Plans

Satoshi Kurosaki Apollo 株式会社APOLLO一級建築士事務所
T +81 3 64335095 F +81 3 64335096
Satoshi Kurosaki Apollo 株式会社APOLLO一級建築士事務所
5-11-23 Minamiaoyanam, Minato word, TERMINAL 1F / B1F, Tokyo, Japan