Clay House, a one-man house in central Tokyo, embodies the most productive of Japanese craftsmanship. The building, the newest by Paris-based Japanese architect Tsuyoshi Tane, blends harmoniously into its surroundings, a densely built residential community consisting primarily of two-story single-family homes. But its understated stucco packaging conceals a rich palette of fabrics and a treasure trove of exquisite detailing, signatures of Tane’s architecture. Prior to setting up his own company in 2017, Tane collaborated with Dan Dorell and Lina Ghotmeh as DGT Architects. Subsequently, he finished several houses and decided to design the long-awaited construction of the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, which will be completed in 2036.
Occupying a corner site, Clay House has a square plan with discrete octagonal volumes open at its four corners, each designated for an express function. “It frees up the center of the house for social activity,” Tane says. The ground floor is centred on the combined living/dining/kitchen domain, with the garage, hall, staircase and garage domain, as well as the bathroom with shower, occupying the octagons. A comfortable, shaded position oriented around a position for the fire, this point of decline is partly embedded in the ground. By contrast, the upper terrain is a spacious, airy domain where walls curve inward to form sloping roof planes culminating in a 19-foot-tall skylight. Here, the owner has a multi-purpose studio surrounded by volumes containing the staircase, bedroom, dressing room and guest bedroom (with the bathroom in between).
Throughout the wood-framed house there are no sharp edges or seam lines. ” That was one of the biggest challenges,” Tane says. But it was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the power of manual labor. ” Sculpted from clay (hence the name of the house) through a professional mason and experienced collaborator of Tane, the stucco walls incorporate earth excavated at the site. Working intensively together, the architect and mason adjusted the composition of the fabrics to achieve an elegant texture on the inside and a rough texture on the outside.
The walls were just one of the handmade elements of the house. “All the bathrooms are custom-made,” laughs the architect. This includes the terrazzo bathtub, the copper kitchen countertops, and of course, the beautiful curved staircase. The favorite moment is the most sensible step, when the moment of the ground is revealed. Made of terrazzo steps cantilevered from the wall and supported by hidden metal foundations, it rises gracefully, accompanied by a pair of sensitive oak balustrades. There is no doubt that this sublime form was fostered thanks to the experience of the architect living in France. “Paris has so many beautiful staircases,” he reflects.
But at its core, Clay House leans toward the classic homemade Japanese house. Its bureaucracy and purposes would possibly be contemporary, but the spirit of craftsmanship is connected to history. “The modern generation can be very beautiful,” Tane says, “yet they are disconnected from our humanity. “
Consultant: SOLSO (landscape)
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