House in Tamatsu: A Unique Blend of Japanese Architecture and Innovation

Award-winning design by Kenji Ido

The inspiration for the House in Tamatsu came from the desire to challenge the conventional architectural language and create a space that defies easy categorization. Kenji Ido explains, "I would like to build a world that can be integrated by neither a summary nor the language. I would like to induce an idea in the metaphysical, induce feeling in the physical, but come and go through both sides continuously."

What sets the House in Tamatsu apart is its rotated volume on the second floor. The entire second floor is rotated 14 degrees for the axis of the building, creating interstitial spaces between the rotated wall and the outer wall. These voids not only add a sense of dynamism to the design but also serve a functional purpose. A skylight positioned in the upper section of the void allows natural light to flood the family room on the first floor, creating a bright and inviting space.

Another striking feature of the House in Tamatsu is the inclined wall that overlaps the stairs. This wall, resembling origami or a facet, adds a sense of playfulness and uniqueness to the design. The inclined wall not only frees people's feelings by deviating from the norm but also creates a new physical sense through the degree of inclination and the way light reflects off it.

The House in Tamatsu was realized using timber construction, with careful attention to preserving the natural light as much as possible. The floor finish is pine timber, while the internal walls and ceilings are finished with plasterboard and acrylic emulsion paint. The kitchen counter features a mortar steel troweling finish, with a stainless steel top. Wet areas are finished with mortar steel troweling. The stairs, designed to drop light on the lower floor, are made of steel plate with an oil paint finish.

With a total floor area of 94.46 sqm, the House in Tamatsu is a three-story residential house located in Osaka, Japan. The design period started in March 2011 and finished in February 2012, with the construction period spanning from March 2012 to July 2012.

The House in Tamatsu presented several challenges during its creation. The client requested a large family room without pillars or load-bearing walls, which led to the use of double walls made of road-bearing walls. Additionally, the stairs needed to drop light on the lower floor, resulting in the creation of box-shaped cantilevered stairs made of steel plate.

The House in Tamatsu has garnered recognition for its exceptional design. It was awarded the Silver A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building, and Structure Design category in 2014. This prestigious award is given to designs that showcase outstanding expertise, innovation, and artistic skill. The House in Tamatsu, with its strong technical characteristics and remarkable level of excellence, continues to inspire awe and wonder.

Photography by Yohei Sasakura.