Project : House_TN
Architect : Teruo Miyahara
Builder : Three ef Co.
Design : Oct. 2003 – May 2005
Construction : July 2005 – Feb. 2006
Location : Kanagawa Japan
Total Floor Area : 160 sqm

text by architect Teruo Miyahara
House TN is a residence that stands along the Tama River in western Tokyo. It was designed for two sisters and their respective families. Though the sisters may be close, they do have separate families and separate lives, and so living together is another matter. When designing this house, it was necessary to rethink the relationship of families and houses in an urban environment.
The road in front of the site is extremely busy with a regular flow of trucks and other vehicles, and there are no satisfactory pedestrian pavements. Therefore, the site has its drawbacks including the tremor and exhaust emissions from the traffic. Even so, the families had chosen this place to build a house because it offers a marvelous view of Tama River.

Meanwhile, the many factories and warehouses in the neighbourhood are also an integral part of the local identity. For this reason, the exterior walls of House TN are made of material which is mainly used for factories and warehouses, and zinc-coated corrugated and perforated steel sheets which are usually used for civil engineering are used for the front of the building facing the road. These materials give off a slightly cold and metallic impression under the sun, but at night, the corrugated and perforated sheets disappear and the warmth of the rooms seeps out into the night air. The house may almost look like a factory by day but is a warm residence by night.

* residence for an “urban” extended family: a house that accommodates the needs of modern nuclear families who have grown accustomed to independent life but have chosen to enjoy the benefits of being part of a large family.

The three-story building is designed to accommodate two families, on the left and right, with two staircases. The units both have their private rooms on the first and second floors and the living rooms on the third floor, but the interior of each house is designed in totally different tastes according to each family. The two units are called “the black house” and “the white house” from the color of their stairways. The living rooms on the third floor have folding doors that can be opened up so that the two families can use it as one large room to enhance lively communication.

The roof has what looks like a glass box called the Den Room, which is only large enough for one member of either family to enter. Here, it is possible to watch the horizon, meditate, and maybe learn something by gazing up at the stars, for it is only natural that people sometimes need some space to themselves.

about Teruo MIYAHARA
President, Miyahara Architect Office
Nationality: Japanese
Profession: Architect and Planner
Born in Tokyo in 1966, Teruo Miyahara studied concrete engineering at University. After graduation he joined Takenaka Corporation. At 1999 , he established Miyahara Architect Office to pursue an original approach in achieving quality living. He is also teaching at the faculty of engineering of Gunma University from 2002 as a lecturer.
Prominent works include several residential projects, many of which have been awarded.

Miayara's design belief
It is easy to become immersed in preconceived ideas called "common sense" and "experience." But these can at times hinder the creation of truly natural and comfortable spaces. It is therefore essential to keep an open mind. Pure design work is a process that involves identifying what is truly needed, and placing the necessary quantities in the necessary places. Architecture, whether it be a small house for a single family, is the accumulation of this fundamental work process, outweighing all elements of purpose, scale, method of construction, or structure. This is the very essence of my design.