Half Dose #5: O House

Like some of his Japanese contemporaries, Kei'ichi Irie's houses have generic names that make them sound like experiments or parts of a larger set. O House is part of a portfolio that includes the C House, the W House, the Ta House, and so forth. Simplicity of materials and complexity of space seem to be a consistency for these mostly Tokyo residences on small urban sites.



The O House is located in the Meguro district (which borders the well-known Shibuya district), in a residential portion of Tokyo. Its most outstanding feature is a large window with a curling concrete projection on three sides. This elevated feature indicates that the living area is lifted off the ground, with bedrooms occupying this lowest level.



The interior is a plethora of concrete defining irregular spaces. It resembles more a museum than a house. The house was completed last May.

Links:

- kei'ichi IRIE + Power Unit Studio home page.
- MoCo Tokyo page on the architect's houses.
- Architecture in the "Information Scape", their contribution to the 1996 Venezia Biennale.