Japanese studio Apollo Architects & Associates has completed Esprit House, a home in Tokyo, Japan with a blocky concrete form elevated on piloti above a garage space. Text description provided by the architects. A massive concrete and glass exterior defines this house in a downtown residential neighborhood. The client, who runs a company that uses flowers and greenery to design lifestyles, wanted to incorporate that concept into a residence that rethinks the home as both private and open to the public sphere.
Esprit House is a home with a blocky concrete form elevated on piloti above a garage space
![Esprit House](http://i0.wp.com/themindcircle.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/esprit-house-1.jpg)
The entrance, located next to a two-car piloti garage, leads to a weight-training gym. On the second floor, in addition to private spaces such as the bathroom, children’s room, and master bedroom, a library utilizes open space around the stairs as an area for family interaction. A family room occupies the third floor, with a deep-covered balcony overlooking the street. One-way glass preserves privacy within this comfortable intermediary space filled with outdoor furniture and potted olive trees.
![Esprit House](http://i0.wp.com/themindcircle.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/esprit-house-4.jpg)
Other than the open chef’s kitchen, functional elements such as the storage areas, kitchen, elevator, bathroom, and stairwell are concentrated along walls running lengthwise through the house, resulting in a minimalistic tube-shaped space. Natural light and ventilation flow along the north-south axis. The rooftop, accessible through the top floor, has a garden with an outdoor kitchen, furniture, and pergola. Linking indoor and outdoor living spaces and enclosing them with greenery results in a serene atmosphere that is private while still offering attractive views.
![Esprit House](http://i0.wp.com/themindcircle.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/esprit-house-2.jpg)
Spaces like the gym, library, rooftop garden and chef’s kitchen are becoming essential in the work-from-home era, with comfortable living environments and intermediary areas linking interior and exterior increasingly in demand. Perhaps the most sought-after characteristic of future homes will be a joie-de-vivre spirit that allows residents to migrate freely between indoor and outdoor spaces.
![Esprit House](http://i0.wp.com/themindcircle.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/esprit-house-5.jpg)
![Esprit House](http://i0.wp.com/themindcircle.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/esprit-house-6.jpg)
![Esprit House](http://i0.wp.com/themindcircle.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/esprit-house-8.jpg)
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Photography by Masao Nishikawa