Architecture News Plus (ANP) – Architecture and Design Magazine

Wall-less House

This is a project by Tezuka Architects + Masahiro Ikeda Co. and it is located at Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan. It was submitted to Architecture News Plus (ANP) by Tezuka Architects. Project's program: Residence. There are eighteen images for Wall-less House.

: © Katsuhisa Kida / FOTOTECA

Project details

Project name: Wall-less House
Location: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Program: Residence
Area: Site area: 255.19 m2 • Building area: 50.84 m2 • Total floor area: 239.91 m2
Year: Design: 2000.4 - 2000.12 • Construction: 2000.1 - 2000.6
More details: Number of stories: B1F, 3F • Structure: Steel
Project by: Tezuka Architects + Masahiro Ikeda Co.
Team: Architects: Takaharu + Yui Tezuka, Makoto Takei
Others: Architectural and Structural design: Ove Arup & Partners Japan Limited • Lighting design: Masahide Kakudate Lighting Architect & Associates, Inc. (Masahide Kakudate) • Construction: Matsumoto Corporation

Project images

Designer's statement

This large site in a dense residential neighborhood in Setagaya-Ku district in Tokyo provides a rare opportunity to open the house completely to the landscape and environment, like a retreat villa in the countryside. Occupying only 20% of the site, the house leaves ample space around it for a truly open, continuous space, a wall-less house.

Using a lightweight steel, load bearing frame structure, the axial loads are distributed through only a utility core in the center and two thin columns, therefore opening the living space to the outside completely on all sides. The floors thus float in air, surrounded by the trees for greenery and privacy.