Ab Ovo

｜DATA

Design: Hirotaka Sato, Yuki Nishimura
Site: 3 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Structure: RC structure Scale: 3 floors above ground, 1 floor below ground
Use: rental housing, exclusive housing, gallery
Site area: 159.59m2
Building area: 106.69m2
Total floor area: 350.43m2
Completion: 2007.06
Structural design: Toshio Unno / Alpha Structural Design Office Construction: Jukyo Construction
Photo: Koichi Torimura

｜CONCEPT

An apartment building with a gallery in Shimokitazawa, a town where old and new coexist.
The 2nd and 3rd floors consist of 3 owner households, 1 rental household on the 1st floor, and a gallery on the 1st basement floor. Taking into account the age and tastes of the owner households, each space has different colors and materials.
A three-dimensional courtyard on the north side integrates the different spaces. This courtyard connects the space from the ground to the underground gallery. In addition, the north wall serves as a reflector, leading softly diffused natural light into the interior. While the courtyard is the core of the flow lines and line of sight, consideration was given to avoid crossing them.
Bricks are used for the exterior and the courtyard, with the intention of blending the three-dimensional courtyard space into the town of Shimokitazawa.