all photos by Masao Nishikawa
In a city like Tokyo, achieving both natural light and privacy in your home is a high-wire balancing act. Overdo it on side and the other suffers. The latest solution comes from Naruse-Inokuma Architects, who recently completed their “Split House” in a dense, suburban neighborhood of Tokyo.
On the 1st floor is the kitchen, dining area, sofa space, shared study and other multi-purpose spaces. Splitting the 1st floor and 2nd floor – hence the naming of the home – is a 360-degree mezzanine that’s also surrounded by raised windows that circle around the house. As you pass the mezzanine and continue up the stairs you arrive on the 2nd floor. Here there is a narrow space dedicated to storage and a shared bedroom.
The exposed beams and braces help create a more natural feel. As the architect points out, sunlight filters through the branches into the 1st floor creating a forest-like feel.
