The trias machiya

This project is a 14-unit housing complex in a Tokyo residential district, on a compact site adjoining a public plaza. Within strict legal limits, it realizes a sculptural design: a simple volume articulated by repeated openings. The height is kept low and large blank walls are avoided, easing pressure on the surroundings. The exterior is clad in earthen tiles, with greenery from façade to roof that ties the building to the plaza. At night, interior light spills outward like a large andon lantern. The proposal leverages dense, small-lot conditions to blend with the city, contribute to its setting, and reflect Tokyo’s urban character.