Project- Concrete Box: An Inward-Looking Facade

Azuma House is one of the early works of self-taught Japanese architect Tadao Ando, built in the year of 1975. The house is an excellent example of an “anti-social facade” with its non-existing windows in front. Located in Osaka, Azuma House was built to replace a traditional wooden house and it reflects a completely different identity by its “concrete box” image from the environment.

©-Hiromitsu-Morimoto
© Hiromitsu Morimoto

Reinforced concrete facade is the major component to create “secrecy and privacy” of its identity. The house limits its own communication by having a blind or holistic facade while the door is the only way in and out.   

Concrete Box: An Inward-Looking Facade
Concrete Box: An Inward-Looking Facade

Azuma house is split into spaces by the insertion of an abstract space in the middle for ventilation and sunlight. This is the very core idea of Azuma House, which places the architectural design in a unique position actually. In that sense, Ando himself explained that his goal was to ask a question on the passivity that has invaded human dwellings.

The living room, bathroom and kitchen are located on the ground floor. There are a staircase and a passageway (a bridge) to the upper floor where the two bedrooms are located.