© Koichi Torimura
- Architects: Ikeda Yukie Architects
- Location: Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, Japan
- Lead Architects: Ikeda Yukie, Ono Toshiharu
- Collaborators: MID architectural structure laboratory
- Area: 96.0 m2
- Project Year: 2016
- Photographs: Koichi Torimura
© Koichi Torimura
From the architect. MU consists of a dwelling for a couple combined with a photo studio in the small northern city, Hachinohe, Aomori. People often gathered at the existing studio as if it were a meeting place of the town, and we aimed to maintain that atmosphere while considering the couple’s privacy.
© Koichi Torimura
Taking the hard climate into account, we looked for openness, not only by physical transparency.
Isometric
In accordance with the low-rise residential neighborhood, the volume is formed into a deconstructed quadrangular pyramid with a low façade facing the street and rising back up towards the North. Inside the pyramid, the privacy-cores are piled in tiers, while the surrounding spaces are open.
© Koichi Torimura
The mountain-like presence of the form invites people, while the large open space enclosed by powerful frame structures is receptive to both privacy and publicity. A privacy-core opens with sliding doors, which enables efficient use in the flexibility to adjust the area of private and public.
© Koichi Torimura
Floor Plans
© Koichi Torimura
With this system, the dwelling can open a lot of the space to the public, and by that the dwellers in this shrinking city can gain social capital through rich relations.
© Koichi Torimura