The rooms and utilities are arranged around a one-room space with a frontage of 8.4m, a depth of 7.7m, and a height of 5.1 to 6.5m, with a large opening on the south side. To make this huge volume possible, sleeve walls are installed on the east and west walls at a pitch of 1,200mm to create a buttress structure. The rooms and bathrooms are gently separated from the atrium space by polycarbonate fixtures and curtains. The name "Kahina" (an old word for arms) comes from the shape of the arms, which are bent at an angle to embrace the space.

Japan | Osaka

Jutakutokushu May 2008 issue 106P