House Of Quartz / Archisan

Architects: Archisan
Area: 261 m²
Year: 2019
Photographs: Koichi Torimura
Lead Architect: Tomohisa Miyauchi
Structural Engineer: Takeshi Suzuki
City: Meguro City, Tokyo
Country: Japan

The House of Quartz, designed by Archisan in Meguro City, Tokyo, explores spatial adaptability by challenging conventional building typologies. Completed in 2019, the mixed-use structure integrates flexible living, working, and recreational spaces, rejecting rigid zoning divisions. A defining feature of the design is its 360-degree rotating windows, which establish a dynamic connection between the interior and the urban environment while enhancing the building’s porosity. The project aligns with Sustainable Development Goal #11, advocating for spatial neutrality and adaptable urban living. With open-plan configurations, an exposed mechanical system, and a stacked-box aesthetic, the building prioritizes long-term sustainability and user-driven spatial evolution.

The House of Quartz embodies a porous architectural framework, designed to absorb, reflect, and amplify the dynamics of daily life. Its structure functions as both solid and permeable, allowing fluid spatial interactions that break away from traditional constraints. By eliminating fixed boundaries, the design fosters a continuous and adaptable environment, where living, working, and leisure seamlessly merge.

The project challenges conventional zoning and typology, proposing a low-tech, mixed-use approach that accommodates evolving user needs. The 360-degree rotating windows define the architectural experience, serving as both framing devices and reflective surfaces that establish an interplay between the built environment and personal perception. These adaptable openings enable a continuous exchange between interior and exterior spaces, reinforcing the concept of architecture as an interactive medium.

Urban development often relies on rigid zoning regulations, but the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the limitations of such strict spatial divisions. The disruption of traditional workspaces and social environments raised fundamental questions about whether architecture should impose fixed functions or remain adaptable to changing needs. In Tokyo, the separation of commercial and residential zones often leads to isolated districts that exclude those who do not work or consume goods in those areas. This stratified urban model highlights the need for alternative approaches to spatial planning that prioritize flexibility.

The House of Quartz aligns with the principles of Sustainable Development Goal #11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by promoting a shift toward spatial neutrality. Rather than prescribing specific functions, the design encourages user-driven reconfiguration, allowing individuals to define and redefine spaces based on their daily activities. Internally, the building features two-story and three-story row houses, with units of varying sizes arranged across three floors. The flexible layouts can be opened or partitioned, providing adaptability based on user needs. An exposed mechanical system ensures ease of maintenance and energy-efficient upgrades, supporting long-term sustainability.

Externally, the stacked-box aesthetic presents a bold, brutalist composition, contrasting with the building’s fluid internal logic. The rotating windows enhance porosity, challenging conventional distinctions between interior and exterior while fostering a dynamic engagement with the surroundings.

The project embraces ambiguity and transience, qualities often overlooked in contemporary Japanese architecture. By setting back from the street, the design creates a layered urban interface, encouraging unexpected interactions and redefining the relationship between architecture and its context.