Rokko Housing II
Kobe, Hyogo, Japan · 1993
Photo · © Tadao Ando Architect & Associates
A prime precedent for Tadao Ando's mastery of cast-in-place concrete, demonstrating how curved and rectilinear geometries can intersect to create dynamic, light-filled outdoor circulation spaces on a steep hillside.
- What we like about this project
- The precise grid of tie-rod holes in the concrete forms a subtle decorative pattern across the curved wall.
Materials
- exposed-concrete
- cast-in-place-concrete
- steel-railings
- aggregate-pavers
Visual identifiers
- curved-concrete-wall
- exposed-concrete-tie-holes
- stepped-terraces
- concrete-columns
- outdoor-courtyard
Style tags
- brutalist
- minimalist
- monolithic
- modernist
Visual tags
- brutalist
- hillside-architecture
- monolithic
- light-and-shadow
- circulation-spine
- courtyard
- Geometry
- An intersecting composition of rectilinear concrete frames, a sweeping curved concrete balcony wall, and stepped outdoor terraces that negotiate a steep hillside.
- Facade system
- Exposed cast-in-place concrete with integrated glazing units.
- Structural guess
- Reinforced concrete post-and-beam system integrated with retaining shear walls.
- Spatial scale
- Multi-level residential common area with monumental, double-height concrete columns and sweeping pedestrian ramps.
- Lighting
- Strong, directional daylight casts sharp geometric shadows across the concrete surfaces, highlighting the contrast between the deep shaded recesses and the bright outdoor terrace.
- Atmosphere
- A quiet, monumental stillness defined by the cool gray tones of concrete and the dramatic play of natural light.
- Environmental context
- Nestled into a steep, forested hillside with dense green foliage visible in the background.
- Spatial experience
- The space transitions from a deep, shaded undercroft to an open-air courtyard, framed by dramatic concrete overlooks and circulation paths that encourage vertical movement.
- Composition rhythm
- The sweeping curve of the upper balcony contrasts with the rigid grid of the concrete columns and rectangular window openings.
- Style reading
- Japanese Brutalist Minimalism
- Program
- Multi-family residential complex
- Perspective
- Interior Spatial
- Discipline
- architecture
- Materials
- exposed-concrete, cast-in-place-concrete, steel-railings, aggregate-pavers
- Visual identifiers
- curved-concrete-wall, exposed-concrete-tie-holes, stepped-terraces, concrete-columns, outdoor-courtyard
- Style tags
- brutalist, minimalist, monolithic, modernist
- Visual tags
- brutalist, hillside-architecture, monolithic, light-and-shadow, circulation-spine, courtyard
- Geometry
- An intersecting composition of rectilinear concrete frames, a sweeping curved concrete balcony wall, and stepped outdoor terraces that negotiate a steep hillside.
- Facade system
- Exposed cast-in-place concrete with integrated glazing units.
- Structural guess
- Reinforced concrete post-and-beam system integrated with retaining shear walls.
- Spatial scale
- Multi-level residential common area with monumental, double-height concrete columns and sweeping pedestrian ramps.
- Lighting
- Strong, directional daylight casts sharp geometric shadows across the concrete surfaces, highlighting the contrast between the deep shaded recesses and the bright outdoor terrace.
- Atmosphere
- A quiet, monumental stillness defined by the cool gray tones of concrete and the dramatic play of natural light.
- Environmental context
- Nestled into a steep, forested hillside with dense green foliage visible in the background.
- Spatial experience
- The space transitions from a deep, shaded undercroft to an open-air courtyard, framed by dramatic concrete overlooks and circulation paths that encourage vertical movement.
- Composition rhythm
- The sweeping curve of the upper balcony contrasts with the rigid grid of the concrete columns and rectangular window openings.
- Style reading
- Japanese Brutalist Minimalism
- Program
- Multi-family residential complex
- Perspective
- Interior Spatial
- Discipline
- architecture