Moriyama House

Ryue Nishizawa – Moriyama House, Nishi-Kamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Japan, 2005

The architect's plan called for the division of an overall structure into "units", which he simply ordered from A to I.
Many of the separate parts serve a single function, such as the living room (Unit C) or the bathroom (Unit D).
Five living volumes are complete with essential functions, each with its own small kitchenette and bathroom, and therefore functioning as an independent "mini-house". The units are positioned at almost the same distance across the entire surface of the site. Each mini-house has its own small garden, a green space in which to plant vegetables, hang laundry or exercise outdoors.
Despite their proximity to one another, the tiny homes provide a level of privacy, with the windows of one unit never directly facing those of another.
Ryue Nishizawa's project could be considered an experiment for a new type of family structure, an architectural prototype for the coexistence of individuals who live alone, yet together.