House of Tsuzumi (Taiko Drum House)
This residence is located in an area characterized by a mix of small local factories — remnants of the Edo period — scattered among apartment complexes that have developed as a result of the area’s proximity to central Tokyo. While the site has road access along both its east and west boundaries, the neighbouring buildings dwarf the residential scale of the plot, blocking light and views, especially to the south. Light simulations during the planning phase revealed that direct sunlight reaches the site only for a narrow window during the morning, between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM. However, an elementary school to the north of the plot provides a view through to the open schoolyard.
Client and Concept
The client, who works in curation and art sales, wanted to design the house as one of several short-term bases, both for living and as a small showroom for artworks.
The design is focused on three main drivers: capturing and utilising the limited sunlight, both in a practical and profound way; making use of the opening towards the school as a means of borrowing a sense of spatial openness; and providing privacy from the neighbouring context.
To achieve these goals, the house was conceived as a concave “Tsuzumi”, a traditional drum with an hourglass form. The recesses created by cinching the form at the centre allowed for the placement of windows at an angle to the site boundaries, capturing southern light while also directing views toward the road and the school. This double indentation, which also shields the interior from neighbouring plots, creates an entrance and front garden at ground level that operate as a buffer from the street.
Interior and Light
The indented form also creates internal alcoves, which operate as small pockets of space used differently as the sun shifts throughout the day. The staircase has been situated on the north side and contains high-level lighting. Painted in high-gloss white, this vertical core reflects light down to the lower floors while also serving as a backdrop for the client’s art collection. To manage the temperature fluctuations typical of three-storey homes, a vertical duct system has been integrated to circulate air comfortably between floors.
Structure and Materiality
The exterior form and materiality draw from the local streetscape, resembling both the neighbouring factories and apartment blocks. The house is simultaneously a reflection of each type and a new hybrid, designed to respond to the challenges of its context. Just as a Tsuzumi drum amplifies sound through its shape, this building acts as a device to amplify and guide limited light into the interior.
Regulations and Construction
Because the house is built on reclaimed coastal land, and due to the increasing pressure of construction costs in Japan, a wooden structure was selected as the best solution for the required floor area. The site is in a Quasi-Fire Prevention District, which typically mandates concealing the structure with protective gypsum lining or using thicker structural members to prevent collapse during fire. In this case, however, it was possible to use exposed 120 mm square timber framing by making the exterior walls and eaves fire-resistant and by restricting the total area of windows and openings. Through this, the warmth and cost-efficiency of the timber structure are achieved in balance.
Because the allowable window area using this method is determined by the distance from the road and neighbouring structures, measured perpendicularly from each window, the Tsuzumi shape is strategically effective. The concave indentation increases the effective distance from the road, allowing for a greater window area while optimizing light and views.
