The site is located in a quiet residential area in Senboku New-Town, Osaka, which has been developed in the 1970's. The owner requested three primary functions for the new building: first as residential space for the family of three, second as a studio for his wife and daughter who both are potters, and the last as a gallery to exhibit artworks made by the three including himself, who is a sculptor, as well as other artists' artworks they posses.
In this project, it was examined how to give a residence more flexibility. As a result, several intermediate territories were set under given conditions. First, DOMA, mortar-finished floor space, was provided in the center of the building as a connecting node for the three functions of the house, studio and gallery. The DOMA space, not only has the conventional residential functions such as an entrance hall, but also plays a role to connect the inside and outside of the building including the courtyard and an alleyway on the east side of the site.
Second, the courtyard, which becomes a void provided in the center of the site, is not simply a private space completing within the site. Being divided from the road on the west with a louvered gate, it was planned to be one of the intermediate territories between public and private spaces. At the same time, the void of the courtyard brings in the house light and view through the large opening when it is wide open, and also brings in the studio on the south-east indirect light through slits so it won't disturb the work to be done inside. Furthermore, the courtyard also can be an activity intermediate territory, which transforms depending on the purpose of utilization in accordance with the will of residents. It can be an outdoor living room extending beyond the house, an outdoor exhibition space protruding from the gallery, or sometimes a party room.
"Living," "Creating," "Exhibiting," "Gathering," such multi-dimensional activities are to be performed at this building, and its flexibility allows each zone to adapt its function for a required purpose. In everyday life, it is leniently separated according to the fundamental functions. But, sometimes the entire site can be one continuous space to become a gallery, by combining the alleyway, the house, the studio and/or the courtyard in a flexible manner. Thus, using various tools such as storm doors, fittings, hanging walls, Tatami mat chairs, and/or storage partitions, this building gives the residents more freedom to determine the relationship or distance in several ways: between the outside and inside, between human beings, and between functions. We are sure that it will continue to expand the possibility of living style for the residents of this house.
