This is a housing development with 110 units. Here we are proposing a new approach to collectivity. The main residential blocks are arranged to form an enclosure such that the resulting central court is not accessible from the exterior. In other words, the court is a place for the exclusive use of the residents. Every residential unit has two stairways. One is for access from the side of the surrounding road, the other leads to the court. The residences are the “shikii (threshold)” to the court. The courtyard staircases leading from each unit also provide access to common roof terraces. Family rooms face the central court and are made as open as possible, and the courtyard itself, rather than being merely an open space, has positive meaning as a place for living.
		Hotakubo Housing (1988-1991) location: Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture principal use: multiple dwelling site area: 11,184m2 building area: 3,562m2 total floor area: 8,753m2 structure: reinforced concrete; 5 stories maximum height: 13,750mm number of dwelling: 110 architects: Riken Yamamoto & Field Shop structural engineers: Imai Consulting Structural Engineer mechanical engineers: DAN Engineering landscape designers: Equipe Espace general contractors: Wakuda Construction, Takahashi Construction (1st phase) Mitsuno Construction, Yasuda Construction (2nd phase) completion date: August, 1991 next back top