Architecture Atelier Akio Takatsuka divides Quad House into unequal sections
The pointed roof of this small zinc-covered Tokyo house by Architecture Atelier Akio Takatsuka is offset to reflect the arrangement of rooms inside (+ slideshow).
![Quad House by architecture atelier akio takatsuka](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/10/Quad-House-by-architecture-atelier-akio-takatsuka_dezeen_468_1.jpg)
Quad House is located towards the back of a long thin plot in a suburb of the Japanese capital, surrounded by a garden and agricultural land.
![Quad House by architecture atelier akio takatsuka](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/10/Quad-House-by-architecture-atelier-akio-takatsuka_dezeen_468_0.jpg)
"This house in the suburbs of Tokyo is surrounded by natural elements like vegetable fields and flower gardens," said architect Akio Takatsuka.
![Quad House by architecture atelier akio takatsuka](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/10/Quad-House-by-architecture-atelier-akio-takatsuka_dezeen_468_3.jpg)
"It is designed to be as small as possible based on two ideas: how to create different kinds of spatial quality and how to attend to the immediate natural context."
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Takatsuka, who founded his own atelier in 2010, designed the building for the younger generation of a family who own the house towards the front of the strip.
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The new property is clad entirely in horizontal "earth-coloured" zinc panels, added to help the building to "easily blend with the surrounding landscape".
![Quad House by architecture atelier akio takatsuka](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/10/Quad-House-by-architecture-atelier-akio-takatsuka_dezeen_468_5.jpg)
Takatsuka divided the square floor plan into four unequal sections using partitions that form a de-centralised cross in both plan and section.
![Quad House by architecture atelier akio takatsuka](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/10/Quad-House-by-architecture-atelier-akio-takatsuka_dezeen_468_6.jpg)
Sections of these walls and floors are removed to creates spaces that flow into one another and a variety of ceiling heights.
![Quad House by architecture atelier akio takatsuka](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/10/Quad-House-by-architecture-atelier-akio-takatsuka_dezeen_468_7.jpg)
"There is a dramatic transition from any room to the next to realise a variety of spatial scale, condition of light and impression of the room in a relatively small volume of the house," said Takatsuka.
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The double-height entrance and stairwell occupy the smallest portion of the grid on the east-facing side of the house.
![Quad House by architecture atelier akio takatsuka](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/10/Quad-House-by-architecture-atelier-akio-takatsuka_dezeen_468_9.jpg)
A bathroom and laundry room are accessed through a door at the foot of the stairs, while the rest of the ground floor is occupied by the open-plan living, dining and kitchen.
![Quad House by architecture atelier akio takatsuka](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/10/Quad-House-by-architecture-atelier-akio-takatsuka_dezeen_468_12.jpg)
The wood-lined ceiling above the living area reaches the full height of the building and is angled to mimic the slope of the roof, similarly to the entrance space.
![Quad House by architecture atelier akio takatsuka](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/10/Quad-House-by-architecture-atelier-akio-takatsuka_dezeen_468_11.jpg)
Located to one side, the kitchen has a lower ceiling level and is separated from the hall by an enclosed storage space.
![Quad House by architecture atelier akio takatsuka](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/10/Quad-House-by-architecture-atelier-akio-takatsuka_dezeen_468_15.jpg)
Glazed patio doors open from the living room to a small terrace, while wood partitions opposite can be slid across to separate the space from the stairwell.
![Quad House by architecture atelier akio takatsuka](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/10/Quad-House-by-architecture-atelier-akio-takatsuka_dezeen_468_10.jpg)
The open-tread staircase doglegs up to the first floor, where a small library lines the wall along the landing.
![Quad House by architecture atelier akio takatsuka](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/10/Quad-House-by-architecture-atelier-akio-takatsuka_dezeen_468_13.jpg)
The master bedroom fills the same floor area as the wash facilities below, while a second bedroom with a small balcony is located above the kitchen.
White-painted walls are paired with timber planks and panels used across the floors, ceilings and doors, as well as other details like cabinets doors and shelves.
![Quad House by architecture atelier akio takatsuka](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/10/Quad-House-by-architecture-atelier-akio-takatsuka_dezeen_468_14.jpg)
Windows of different sizes create a variety across the building's four external walls and a thin horizontal canopy is positioned above the front door.
Photography is by Kai Nakamura.
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