Tokyo Machiya House 2026: Vertical Wooden Home
Takumi Wakui and Riho Wakui design a four-story wooden residence on a 33 sqm plot in Kagurazaka, Tokyo, reinterpreting traditional machiya.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Four-story wooden home on a 33 sqm plot in Kagurazaka, Tokyo
- Designed by architecture studio Takumi Wakui + Riho Wakui
- Reinterprets Edo-period narrow machiya townhouses vertically
- Uses architectural voids and openings for light and ventilation
Situated on a compact 33 square meter site in Kagurazaka, Tokyo, Japan, this four-story wooden residence offers a modern take on the traditional Japanese machiya as a vertical dwelling. Designed by Takumi Wakui and Riho Wakui for an architect couple, the project explores how natural daylight, ventilation, and spatial openness can be achieved within one of Tokyo's densely built neighborhoods.
Archival research into the site revealed its roots in Edo-period urban subdivisions, where narrow-fronted townhouses developed alongside samurai estates. Successive land divisions over time resulted in the compact parcels seen in the area today. To work around the 33 sqm footprint, the architects organized the home vertically, leveraging height rather than horizontal expansion. Each floor is assigned a distinct function, transitioning smoothly from public areas on lower levels to private spaces on the upper floors without relying on conventional partition walls.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Applying traditional machiya design principles to a modern high-density urban site like Tokyo demonstrates a smart approach to spatial limitations. By utilizing vertical volume and interconnected voids instead of horizontal expansion, the architects successfully transformed a tight 33-square-meter footprint into a fluid, continuous living environment.
Large framed openings are positioned above the living room facing the street and within the top-floor bathroom, allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the core while framing views of greenery. On the exterior, projecting side walls extend up to 800 mm from the building envelope, providing environmental control by blocking harsh western sunlight and capturing southwesterly breezes.
The structural framework combines a robust truss along the longitudinal exterior walls with a double-wall spine at the center. This configuration delivers structural stability while preserving layout flexibility for future adjustments. Through carefully placed openings and voids, the residence adapts fluidly to shifting daylight, airflow, and seasonal changes within its compact urban footprint.
Source: designboom
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