Built on a partially wooded lot (rare as hen's teeth in Tokyo), this six-unit apartment building named 'Dancing Trees, Singing Birds' was designed to eke out the maximum square footage possible on the 8,288-square-foot site.
Rather than the trees and birds making way for the new building, the apartments were fitted in around the existing inhabitants. The six apartments are of different sizes, each with a kitchen/dining room, a living room, a bedroom, and a leisure space.
Nine 'human bird nests' peep out from the south facade, jutting between tree trunks and branches. Woven among them are six small birdhouses that the designer, Hiroshi Nakamura, hung to encourage the birds to remain on the site.
Architecture Nestled in Nature
Tokyo's 'Dancing Trees, Singing Birds'
Trend Themes
1. Eco-integration - The trend of integrating architecture with nature, preserving existing ecosystems while accommodating human needs.
2. Maximizing Space - The trend of designing buildings to make the most efficient use of available space.
3. Biophilic Design - The trend of incorporating nature into architectural design to enhance human well-being.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture and Design - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore new ways to seamlessly integrate architecture with the surrounding natural environment.
2. Real Estate - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop innovative building solutions to maximize space in densely-populated urban areas.
3. Sustainability and Conservation - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Combine architectural design and ecological preservation to create sustainable spaces that benefit both humans and nature.