Atelier Tekuto

Twin Bricks

Twin Bricks
© Makoto Yoshida

TWIN BRICKS 

Atelier Tekuto

ARCHITECTS
Atelier Tekuto

PHOTOGRAPHS
Makoto Yoshida

YEAR
2008

CATEGORY
Residential Architecture

Text description provided by architect.

Twin Bricks, consists of two wings - A five unit rental dwelling and the owner’s own two-family house. It is located in a quiet residential area, just 20 minutes by train from Tokyo.

Twin Bricks
© Makoto Yoshida
Twin Bricks
© Makoto Yoshida

In order to secure some space for the owner’s car collection, the owner’s wing (RC Wing) stands closer to the road than the rental wing (S Wing). The rental wing is clad in both autoclaved lightweight concrete (ALC) panels as well as glass blocks.

S WING

The S Wing, based on the previously completed “Crystal Brick” House, introduces ALC panels as aseismatic elements in order to improve cost-effectiveness in the face of earthquake safety.

The arrangement of glass block and ALC panel was derived from a series of experiments. The results showed that the ALC panel fail leaving the glass blocks intact, providing enhanced safety for the occupants.

Twin Bricks
© Makoto Yoshida
Twin Bricks
© Makoto Yoshida
Twin Bricks
© Makoto Yoshida

An intriguing spatial composition materializes due to the seemingly random composition of the glass block and ALC Panels which hide all structure.

RC WING

With the purpose of alleviating noise from the garage and providing a sense of privacy for the owners, Atelier Tekuto Co., Ltd. created the “RC structure + exterior thermal insulation” construction method.

Costs were significantly reduced by introducing high-pressure wood wool cement boards and integrating the boards as form works. Original tiles were also developed after careful consideration.

Twin Bricks
© Makoto Yoshida
Twin Bricks
© Makoto Yoshida

The overall experience of Twin Bricks is heightened by the juxtaposition of the heavy RC wing and light S wing and between the transparency of glass versus the opacity of the ALC panels.

Though these materials seem to be in antithesis, they exhibit a material harmony when partnered together.

Twin Bricks
© Makoto Yoshida


Twin Bricks
© Makoto Yoshida
Twin Bricks
© Makoto Yoshida
Twin Bricks
© Makoto Yoshida
Twin Bricks
© Makoto Yoshida
Twin Bricks
© Makoto Yoshida


Twin Bricks
Elevation
Twin Bricks
Section


Twin Bricks
Plan
Twin Bricks
Plan
Twin Bricks
Detail

Atelier Tekuto
T +81 3 64395540
Atelier Tekuto
4-1-20 Jingumae Forest Building B1F, Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo