Skip-Floor House at a Crossroads｜Archiplace

This three-story timber house was designed for a family of four on a site facing a crossroads in a densely built-up residential area of Tokyo.

To block views from the street and neighboring properties while still allowing ample natural light and ventilation, the building is configured to open broadly toward the sky above the intersection. Despite being surrounded by buildings, it creates a bright and open living environment.

The interior is organized as a series of skip floors, with each room connected to the next at a half-level difference. The changes in floor level create gentle visual and spatial connections, giving the home a greater sense of expansiveness and depth than its limited floor area would suggest. In addition, the combination of high ceilings and a rooftop terrace brings the expansive sky within reach, even in the heart of the city.

This skip-floor home achieves both privacy and openness while creating a three-dimensional relationship between natural light, ventilation, and family life.

Building Overview

Location　　Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Family　　　Couple in their 30s + two children
Completed　March 2014
Structure　　Three-story timber construction (SE Structural System)
Site area　　58.79 m² (17.78 tsubo)
Building area　41.15 m² (12.44 tsubo)
Total floor area　115.73 m² (35.00 tsubo)
Architectural design and supervision　Archiplace
Structural design　NDN (N.D.N.)
Construction　Ogawa Construction Co., Ltd.
Notes　　　Certified Low-Carbon Housing certification; Housing Performance Evaluation certification; Seismic Grade 3; hydronic floor heating (TES)

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