Kiyotoshi Mori + Natsuko Kawamura / MDS

In order to create a home that does not feel boxed in by its urban surroundings, the architects divided the volume into three boxes and arranged them along the property line, then linked them with a central staircase. This allowed for the placement of windows in two sides of each box. The floor height of the boxes varies according to various site and design conditions. Residents move between the volumes via semi-exterior passageways studded with windows that look out onto a variety of scenes, bringing a sense of the passing seasons into the space.