The Kitasenzoku apartment by Tomoyuki Kurokawa Architects is inspired by the Silicon Valley model, a project that focuses on interpersonal relationships created through the coexistence and closeness of university students, companies, and the urban environment itself.
The project is located within the Ota business district, near the Tokyo Institute of Technology with a 490.07 m² space area. An architectural complex consisting of office space, shared-use housing, intended to serve as a student residence, and residences for the project client’s company staff.
The entrance hall, designed under the premises of an open concept, makes room for a flexible space that can serve as a conference area for students, or even as an informal space for residents of the neighborhood.
An environment created as an urban extension, equipped with benches, lights, and greenery to create a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
The chalkboard paint finish on some of the walls allows for drawing and writing, promoting informal, daily discussions between students and staff members.
The morphology of the building is the result of the calculations carried out under the regulations of setback and projection of shadows, while the volume of the building was defined by the areas and spaces necessary for residences and users; As a result, the balconies are in the empty space between those two three-dimensional design criteria.
Because this building has a prominent volume within the surrounding neighborhood, there is no clearly distinguishable front or rear of the building.
Tomoyuki Kurokawa Architects makes the building stand out notably in its urban environment without being a visual obstacle through a minimalist and asymmetric design, with a great sense of connection created through the openings in all the facades of the volume.
The philosophy followed in the morphology of the project’s structure is translated in the same way in its interiors, which stand out for their simplicity through smooth white surfaces, a play between volume and void, as well as the combination of pure materials such as wood and concrete that favor the attractiveness of forms while adding character and warmth to spaces.
Without a doubt, an architectural project that can become a benchmark for universities and companies that are committed to a future of collaboration with new work systems.
Photography: Tomoyuki Kurokawa Architects