Akihisa Hirata’s Tree-ness House, nestled within Tokyo’s Toshimaku district, integrates urban living with natural forms, crafting an ecosystem that reimagines the symbiosis between architecture and nature.
The building, completed in 2017, is a sophisticated composition of concrete, glass, and greenery that draws upon the complex hierarchical structure of a tree. Much like a tree's segmented system of trunk, branches, and leaves, Hirata’s design articulates a spatially dynamic “organism” where stacked concrete boxes, textured pleated windows, and living greenery seamlessly merge. The resulting structure stands as a monumental ecosystem in which architecture mirrors nature’s essential components, producing both an elemental and deeply futuristic vision.
The intricate layering of concrete boxes forms a labyrinthine structure punctuated by voids and pleats, enhancing the dialogue between interior and exterior. By planting greenery along the building’s outer contours, Hirata integrates “breathing” spaces that evoke the sensation of being nestled within a living entity. This interplay is heightened through pleated window openings, blurring the boundaries between the inner sanctuary of the home and the bustling Tokyo streets below. These thoughtful transitions from gallery and bedroom interiors to open-air terraces cultivate a harmony of purpose and place, sensitively marrying the organic and urban realms.
Ultimately, Tree-ness House is less a building and more an experiment in spatial perception. Hirata’s creation reverses traditional roles of enclosure and openness, allowing the boundaries of the building to transcend conventional notions of ‘inside’ and ‘outside.’ This approach gives rise to an architecture that is as much about interaction with the surrounding environment as it is about the interior's functionality, tapping into what Hirata describes as a “futuristic and savage” approach that subtly awakens a primal, spatial awareness.
