Sanshi Forests Apartment
Nobuki Taoka

Sanshi Forests Apartment

YDS Architects as Architects

Located in front of a large park in Tokyo, YDS reconsiders the meaning of “living together” and tries to drive an organic wedge into the city. Connecting the residential building with the city by making a public space which is open to the city is the design solution. 
Covered by glasses, the space of stairs positively relates to the city and it would blend in the scenery of the site. The glass projects images of people who go up and down the stairs, providing vital public space to the city.
Since scenes would change according to the season and time, residents enjoy various views of the sky and the forests in the park. Climbing up and down the stairs is like walking above the park. Although the space is somewhat small, it is like “Floating Promenades” for people.

The space of stairs is “Void of the Light” where one would realize the fact that all things exist in the mixture of the light and shadow, and the spaces connect to the form.
At night, the stairs float and shine in the dark, and illuminate the city, thus, “Void of the Light” is transformed into “Tower of the Light”. It would add distinctive scenery to the existing city day and night.

photo_credit Nobuki Taoka
Nobuki Taoka
photo_credit Nobuki Taoka
Nobuki Taoka

The surrounding apartment buildings in front of a large park were designed in a way that did not make the most of the park.
On the contrary, YDS aimed to create "architecture open to the city" and designed it to make the most of the park's natural surroundings.

photo_credit Nobuki Taoka
Nobuki Taoka
photo_credit Nobuki Taoka
Nobuki Taoka

Generally, when architects design apartments, they selects plywood flooring due to the maintainance. On the contrary, we selected solid Japanese Hinoki inside all units. The use of solid wood allows residents to enjoy the gentle atmosphere of solid wood.

photo_credit Nobuki Taoka
Nobuki Taoka
photo_credit Nobuki Taoka
Nobuki Taoka

Team:

Architects: YDS

Engineers: Atsuhiro Nakahata/ yAT Structural Engineer

Photographer: Nobuki Taoka

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Materials Used:

Facade cladding:  White Spray, Kikusui-Chemical
Flooring:   Solid Hinoki, Nojimoku
Doors:    Veneer-flash,YDS
Windows:   Alminium Sash, Sankyo-tateyama
Roofing:   Asphalt Roofing, Tajima
Interior lighting:  Lighting, Koizumi Lighting

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