Japan, and Tokyo in particular, is a dream for architects wanting to experiment with structures, ideas and designs that might be tricky to build elsewhere. Buildings are not seen as investments in themselves, but as temporary dwellings for a single generation – created to serve their purpose and then be swiftly replaced. Local tax regulations also often make it more attractive for owners to build from scratch, rather than buy an existing property and refurbish. The landscape for buyers has developed accordingly. At one end of the market are cheap houses picked at housing parks, where developers showcase their samples; at the other are bespoke commissions. The life expectancy of both types, however, is only about 30 years, precisely the amount of time needed for a standard mortgage. More often than not, when the house is paid for, it’s demolished and a new one constructed.

While it might not be the most sustainable approach to housing, this dynamic allows for young and independent architects to explore novel and innovative ideas for homes when approached by homebuyers with vision and a keen sense of what they are looking for. This partly explains why so many quirky, fun and experimental houses are born of Japanese architect drawing boards, and while even these homes are rarely meant to last more than a generation, they provide the design standards that might be more difficult to find in the run-of-the-mill homes for sale by large-scale homebuilders.

TNA’s Between Natsume-zaka project is a good example of this. The 162 sq m house sits in the middle of the gently sloping Natsume-zaka street (named after the author Natsume Sōseki). It includes two 28 sq m studio apartments on the ground and first floors, for renting out, while the upper two and a half floors form a generous 85 sq m penthouse apartment for the owners. The floors are structured around nine cement encased steel pillars that sit in a grid. The floor plates have been welded to this grid at various levels to create a mix of floor heights. So far, so normal.

The real point of difference is the project’s striking lack of opaque walls. As there are houses on three sides of the building, partially blocking the light, TNA decided to use floor-to-ceiling glazing throughout in order to allow the necessary sunlight inside. As a result, the floors appear to be floating in mid-air, giving the house its distinct character and light and airy feel.

The clients, a couple from out-of-town, were keen to leave an impression on the rather messy neighbourhood with its mismatch of colours, materials and styles – a common sight in urban Tokyo. By giving TNA the freedom to come up with a modern model for urban living, they wanted to create a showcase for the area.

The more private parts of the house, such as the master bedroom and bathroom, are partly hidden away behind built-in furniture on the top floors, and curtain rails have been installed across the glazing, should the need for more privacy arise. Due to the space being so open and clean, TNA also designed most of the furniture for the top-floor flat, to make sure the space keeps its simple, uncluttered feel. The material palette is fittingly minimal: the ceiling and pillars are in exposed concrete, while the floors are solid oak.

A planned widening of the road means that the front half of the building might need to be demolished in the not-too-distant future. However, the structure was designed to be able to accommodate this, and can even be extended on either side, or the back, should the adjacent plots become available.

As originally featured in the October 2015 issue of Wallpaper* (W*199)