![Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/09/dzn_Damier-by-APOLLO-Architects-Associates-1.jpg)
Damier by Apollo Architects & Associates
This house with checkered windows by Japanese firm Apollo Architects & Associates sits on a street corner in downtown Tokyo.
![Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/09/dzn_Damier-by-APOLLO-Architects-Associates-2.jpg)
Damier is built over five stories with with the first two forming rentable space.
![Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/09/dzn_Damier-by-APOLLO-Architects-Associates-4.jpg)
The concrete construction is left exposed on the exterior facade and interior ceilings.
![Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/09/dzn_Damier-by-APOLLO-Architects-Associates-6.jpg)
A steel spiral staircase connects all the floors and leads up to a roof terrace.
![Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/09/dzn_Damier-by-APOLLO-Architects-Associates-9.jpg)
All photographs are by Masao Nishikawa.
![Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/09/dzn_Damier-by-APOLLO-Architects-Associates-11.jpg)
See also: Flow by Apollo Architects & Associates
Here's some more from the architects:
DAMIER
Urban housing built on a area of 23m2 in a 30m2 site.
![Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/09/dzn_Damier-by-APOLLO-Architects-Associates-12.jpg)
Located in downtown Tokyo, where old and new coexist in the form of old houses and stores and large-scale apartment buildings.
![Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/09/dzn_Damier-by-APOLLO-Architects-Associates-13.jpg)
The owner of the house grew up in this area and decided to rebuild one of the two tenement houses that he inherited from his father into a five-storied house.
![Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/09/dzn_Damier-by-APOLLO-Architects-Associates-14.jpg)
An architectural plan that makes use of the characteristic position of the site located at the corner of a crossing has been developed.
![Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/09/dzn_Damier-by-APOLLO-Architects-Associates-16.jpg)
Employing a checkered pattern on the three sides facing onto the roads enabled a view from the interiors to all directions and a striking exterior.
![Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/09/dzn_Damier-by-APOLLO-Architects-Associates-17.jpg)
A reinforced-concrete wall structure was adopted in order to reduce the wall thickness as much as possible because of the limited size of the site.
![Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/09/dzn_Damier-by-APOLLO-Architects-Associates-18.jpg)
The ground and first floors were respectively designed to be leased out to a real-estate company and for residence.
![Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/09/dzn_Damier-by-APOLLO-Architects-Associates-3.jpg)
Entering from the door on the ground floor, a spiral staircase leads to the upper floor where more light pours in and the windows frame a richer view.
![Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/09/dzn_Damier-by-APOLLO-Architects-Associates-20.jpg)
Leasing out the ground floor to secure an income and securing permanence in urban life by dividing the private and the public has by now become a standard choice.
![Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates Damier by APOLLO Architects & Associates](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/09/dzn_Damier-by-APOLLO-Architects-Associates-22.jpg)
This monumental architectural work will become part of history as a new landmark of the neighborhood.
See also:
.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Flow by Apollo Architects & Associates |
Key projects by SANAA |
More architecture stories |