Number House Residence in Hozumidai, Hozumidai Ibaraki-Shi, Osaka, Japan, 2007.
Designer: Mitsutomo Matasunami. Photographer: Mitsutomo Matasunami
Materials: Three-story timber house. Type: White, 3-D, and extruded.
This is a mass-produced, prefabricated house commonly developed in rows of three or more. In many cases, explains Matsunami, the facades are changed at the owner’s pleasure, resulting in rows of houses that do not match aesthetically. In order to overcome this chaotic mixing, he unified four units to appear as one building by transforming the balconies into the street number. It was a strong message to the town, he says. What’s more, price competitiveness was maintained by cost-effective production. And no one will ever mistake this address for any other.
