Daita Project is a residential complex consisting of 16 apartments located in a quiet residential area close to a main road in Setagaya-ku in the Western part of Tokyo. The site is located in a hilly area dotted with L-shaped mansions surrounded by trees.
© Takumi Ota
An L-shaped space was created resembling the nearby mansions. Plantings are used at the building’s exterior reflecting the nearby natural green spaces. Three maisonette units face the street and step in relation to the natural slope of the property. The upper floors use the height difference provided by this slope to create a diverse sectional profile. The dwelling units span the depth of the site and access the surrounding scenery which resembles the natural landscape surrounding the nearby mansions. This access to nature is felt and experienced by utilizing the different heights of the dwelling units.
© Takumi Ota
L-shaped colored stainless steel openings are scattered along the facade penetrating the outer and inner wall surfaces creating a feeling reminiscent of the surrounding green area and references the existing trees nearby. Studios are arranged above the maisonettes and their ceiling heights gradually change along the sloping street while the roof follows in kind. This provides a diverse collection of spaces within the cross-sectional volume of the building.
© Takumi Ota
The dwelling units combine a simple design with little wasted space which allows for a variety of flexible configurations. This is expressed by the contrasting white paneled and bare concrete walls. A series of steps within each of the spaces creates a relationship where living, dining and bedrooms can be changed by the residents. In addition, an L-shaped self-supporting wall has been designed to be used as a walk-in closet or perhaps as a compact PC booth.
© Takumi Ota
A playful use of materials and spaces based on a minimalism related to the nature of the site provides a richness to this special experience. A lifestyle not dominated by things and a liberating sense of freedom exists within the space. A dialogue between the existing architecture and surrounding area is firmly established through the use of color, green plantings and the physical form of the residence.
Project Info
Architects: Ryuichi Sasaki / Sasaki Architecture
Area: 536 m²
Year: 2019
Country: Setagaya-ku, Japan
Photographs: Takumi Ota
Sophie Tremblay is a Montreal-based architectural editor and designer with a focus on sustainable urban development. A McGill University architecture graduate, she began her career in adaptive reuse, blending modern design with historical structures. As a Project Editor at Arch2O, she curates stories that connect traditional practice with forward-thinking design. Her writing highlights architecture's role in community engagement and social impact. Sophie has contributed to Canadian Architect and continues to collaborate with local studios on community-driven projects throughout Quebec, maintaining a hands-on approach that informs both her design sensibility and editorial perspective.