Dezeen Magazine

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

Japanese architect Kimihiko Okada has completed a spiralling house on stilts in Hiroshima.

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

Raised up by metal columns, the two-storey residence, named Toda House, wraps around a courtyard garden.

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

Residents can walk underneath the building into this central courtyard, where a staircase leads up into a first floor lobby.

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

From here, rooms wind anticlockwise around the building and incrementally climb upwards.

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

Balconies are located at both ends of the coil and overlook the sea beyond.

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

Two other stories we've published about Kimihiko Okada feature mountains of aluminium foil - see them both here.

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

Photography is by Toshiyuki Yano.

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

Here's some more text from the architect:


The site is located in a residential area developed on a gentle perch in Hiroshima, overlooking a far view of the Inland Sea and Miyajima.

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

The land of this area is developed into platforms form with several levels.

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

The architecture was requested to have a view over the roof of the neighboring house, standing one level lower, and to consider security, for the site is located at the edge of the residential area, and to leave some space for extension when the client opens a small shop in the future.

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

To respond to the requests, the house is lifted from the ground.

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

Like a bird’s nest, it called up architecture’s primary function of relief from disturbance.

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

The house is open to the view and yet protected from the fear and environment.

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

Slab and roof consists of one continuous plate.

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

The variations of circulation and diverse spatial relations were achieved by placing a penetrating staircase.

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

The extended plate made possible the future extension and softened the impression from the ground level.

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

Spandrel wall changes its height accordingly to the thickness of slab.

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

Together with the slab, the spandrel wall creates the continuous but various environments.

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

Location: Hiroshima, Hiroshima

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

Principal use: private residence (extension; shop)

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

Structure: steel structure two-storey

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

Building area: 90.21sqm
Total floor area: 114.26sqm

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada

Structural Engineer: Structured Environment
Mechanical Engineer: System Design Laboratory

Toda House by Kimihiko Okada