Located in Mitaka, a suburb of Tokyo, the complex consists of nine residential units composed of three basic forms—the cube, the sphere, and the tube—stacked and combined in varying ways. Each unit includes a circular central room with a kitchen, uneven compacted flooring, and vertical poles that assist movement through the space. Ceiling hooks allow residents to suspend lighting, storage, or furniture. Painted in fourteen colors and interconnected by exterior staircases and walkways, the lofts create a dynamic environment of constant sensory engagement.
Guided by the philosophy of procedural architecture, the lofts are designed to challenge and stimulate the body, encouraging inhabitants to move, balance, and perceive differently. In doing so, they open possibilities for discovering the body’s full potential across the lifespan, at times more suited to a child and at others to an elderly person. Dedicated to Helen Keller, who Arakawa and Gins described as embodying “reversible destiny” in her own life, the project affirms architecture as a means of resisting the ordinary limits of human experience.
Through Irene Sunwoo’s generous introduction, we met Momoyo Homma, director of the Reversible Destiny Foundation, who gave us an insightful tour of the lofts.
Today, the lofts are managed by Coordinologist, Inc. and function as residential, educational, and cultural spaces.
Link 2: Arakawa and Madeline Gins: Eternal Gradient