Apollo's minimalist Grigio house in Tokyo

A new family house in Tokyo is a symphony in concrete, designed by Japanese firm Apollo Architects & Associates

(Image credit: Masao Nishikawa)

last updated 26 September 2022

An ode to concrete, this new house in Tokyo is designed by Japanese practice Apollo Architects & Associates, headed by Satoshi Kurosaki. Featuring raw concrete inside and out, the house, called Grigio, was created as a simple box. It may appear closed off but the architect has cleverly carved out parts to make it light and open inside.

One cut-out volume makes way for the ground floor entrance and garage (which provides shelter for two cars). Carefully placed windows punctuate the facades, while terraces and a central courtyard at the one side of the building allow for plenty of light into the interior.

The commission came from a couple that enjoys cars and collects art, so the architecture team paid special attention to the property's windows and light angles. Decorative elements were kept to a minimum throughout to create a streamlined, minimalist appearance. At the same time, the refined colour palette features a simple grey scheme that helps create a sophisticated, gallery-like feel, perfect for art display.

Two levels above ground and a sunken basement floor contain a spacious arrangement that comprises the master bedroom suite, children's room, the family sitting room and an open plan living, dining and kitchen area. The courtyard sits at the volume's heart, centering the design.

Headed by architect Satoshi Kurosaki, the house featuring raw concrete inside and out

A parking area carved out of the box volume — Its monolithic appearance is broken up by a central courtyard and a parking area carved out of the box volume

The house is light and airy inside — Despite its heavy concrete structure, the house is light and airy inside

A simple grey scheme that helps create a sophisticated, gallery-like feel — Decorative elements were kept to a minimum and the colour palette features a simple grey scheme that helps create a sophisticated, gallery-like feel

The commission came from a couple that enjoys cars and collects art...

The property's windows and light — ...so special attention was paid to the property's windows and light

A sunken basement floor — Grigio spans two levels above ground and a sunken basement floor

These contain a master bedroom and hallway — These contain a master bedroom, children's room, family sitting room and an open plan living, dining and kitchen area

The courtyard sits at the building's heart, centring the design

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Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).

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