IN-BETWEEN DWELLING is a small single-family house located on a hillside in the Tomigaya area of central Tokyo. The site of the residence is enclosed by neighbouring houses, a rented car park and a private road, leaving a narrow alleyway as the only official access route. Designed for a family of four, the residence is centered around a 6.5m high stairwell that connects all the rooms and brings natural light into the home.
The staircase forms a continuous open space from the kitchen on the first floor to the loft. The space is lined with 3 wooden boxes that host more private functions. This spatial layout extends to the exterior, where the central space opens up through the large glass areas of the main facade.
The design navigates the restrictive site situation and concurrent regulations through an intelligent spatial structure, creating a sense of expansive space. The variation in floor levels, light and scale throughout the continuous open space creates a varied experience and tension of 間 (ma) or in-betweenness in both social and spatial interaction.
