Description

This slab unites a building type inspired by Le Corbusier with Japanese domestic culture. On every third level of the exposed concrete structure there is a spacious outdoor access gallery from which perpendicular staircases lead to the floors above and below. The use of built-in wooden carpentry and the clear division of the floor plan are inspired by traditional Japanese building types, in which a kitchen and dining area have wooden floors, while tatami mats line the floor of the sleeping and living areas. Sliding walls and storage nooks for futons allow different usage scenarios. On the access levels, the units are organized parallel to the volume and entered through the kitchen, from which the WC, bathroom area, and two rooms are accessed. On the floors above and below, they are organized perpendicular to the volume. Here, the unit is divided into four parallel zones: one strip is occupied by storage spaces, bathroom, WC, and the shared staircase, followed by a hallway-like space with a mini-kitchen and wide enough to double as a living room. In the adjacent zone, two rooms can be connected to one another or the hallway by sliding walls. The meandering dividing wall creates niches for furniture or storage.

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Originally published in: Oliver Heckmann, Friederike Schneider with Eric Zapel (eds.), Floor Plan Manual Housing, fifth revised and expanded edition, Birkhäuser, 2018.