The Azabu Residence

The Azabu Residence is the fourth case study project of Japanese furniture brand Karimoku Case Study and is conceived in close collaboration between Norm Architects and Keiji Ashizawa Design. The latest additions to the collection of fine wooden furniture pieces are created as part of this complete renovation project and have its native setting in a luxury apartment built in 1988, tucked away in the quiet Nishi-Azabu residential district of Tokyo.

Similar to the previous Case Study projects, the Azabu apartment combines Japanese and Scandinavian design principles and aesthetics. A shared belief in the use of natural materials and a muted color palette lies as the foundation of the project, characterized by the focus on tactile, soft-minimal and timeless qualities. Azabu Residence Project is completed in muted, dark tones enhancing and embracing the intimacy of shadows. The spacious but dimly lit apartment is a cozy, human-centric and protective dwelling away from the noise of the city. A calm and embracing interior for contemplation and private family life.

“Regardless of the dark tones used to unify the space, the beauty of this home stands out in the morning and early afternoon, with the contrast of direct sunlight peeking into the space, and at night, when the ambiance of the space is created by an elaborate artificial light scheme.” －Keiji Ashizawa

One of the core elements of the Case Study brand is the study of design- and architectural history and the inspiration for many of the projects has been sparked by field trips to architectural sites, gardens, parks and temples in both Japan and Denmark.“With the use of stone, dark wood and textured textiles, the interior plays on inspiration from mid-century American Modernism. The living areas with a small bar niche, the open plan kitchen, lush carpets and bulky comfortable furniture draws inspiration from an array of elements – from the Japanese inspired Schindler House in Los Angles to the extravagant New York apartments featured in the series Mad Men.”－Frederik Werner

Another main narrative in the interior design is inspired by the well-known Japanese book by Jun’ichirō Tanizaki, “In Praise of Shadows”, that was recommended to us by Keiji Ashizawa on one of our first field trips in Japan. In Scandinavia we often work with bright white walls to enhance daylight, but through the writings of Jun’ichirō Tanizaki, we understood the value of dark, dim places and chose to celebrate and enhance the nature of the site, which resulted in a dark monochrome material palette.”— Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen

麻布公寓

「麻布公寓」（The Azabu Residence）是日本家具品牌Karimoku Case Study個案研究計畫的第四件做品，由丹麥建築事務所Norm Architects與蘆澤啓治建築設計事務所（Keiji Ashizawa Design）攜手合作，共同構思而成。本案位於東京西麻布寧靜的住宅區內，充滿綠意、循環通風的環境，想當難能可貴是在一處翻新的住宅中，納入精美的木製家具。這座一九八八年建立的豪華公寓，位於東京寧靜的住宅區西麻布，堪稱是本案渾然天成的背景。

本案與以往相同，結合日式與斯堪地那維亞的設計法則與美學。以雙方對自然材料與柔和暗色調的共同信念為基礎，專注於觸感、輕柔極簡與永恆的特質。空間以柔和暗色系，運用陰影的親密特質，予以強化。公寓的空間寬敞，但光線幽婉，是以人為核心的舒適空間，能保護居住者遠離城市喧囂。室內散發寧靜與包容的氛圍，適合沉思及私人家庭生活。

「雖是採用深色調來整合空間，然而此宅之美在早晨與午後都相當明顯；白天探入空間的直射日照可與空間形成對比，到了夜晚，精心設計的人工照明則能營造空間氛圍。」——蘆澤啓治

Case Study品牌的核心要素之一，是設計與建築史的研究，案件的諸多靈感是來自於實地走訪日本與丹麥的建築基地、庭園、公園與寺院。

「此宅運用石頭、深色木材與有質感的織物，以二十世紀中期美國現代主義為靈感，並善加發揮。起居空間有壁龕式小酒櫃、開放式廚房、長絨毛地毯與舒適的大型家具，這是受到諸多來源的啟發，包括洛杉磯具有日式風格的辛德勒宅（Schindler House），影集《廣告狂人》（Mad Men）中的豪華紐約公寓等等。」——Norm合夥人費德里克・維納（Frederik Werner）

「此室內設計的另一種主要論述，是受日本作家谷崎潤一郎的知名之作《陰翳禮讚》啟發，這是Norm Architects早期實地走訪日本時，蘆澤啓治推薦的讀物。斯堪地那維亞常採用明亮的白牆，以強化日光，然而透過谷崎潤一郎的著作，我們了解到陰影空間的價值，遂決定頌揚與強調此基地的性質，使用單色調的深色材料。」——Norm創辦人與合夥人約納斯・比爾－普森（Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen）

Design Studio  |  Norm Architects | normcph.com

Photography  |  Karimoku Case Study |  www.karimoku-casestudy.com