Japanese architects Yuji Tanabe and Sachie Isaka have collaborated on the Flower Apartment complex, located in Tsudanuma, Chiba, Japan. Tsudanuma is a University town and a bedroom community of Tokyo.

The actual site is on a 390 sqm plot of land on the south side of the district, located next to flower gardens and fruit orchards in a very peaceful setting. The plot is a combination of three separate plots previously occupied by car parking and farm land. The apartment will eventually host three separate buildings, therefore, the decision was made to locate the first building in the middle of the site, so that when the other two flower shaped buildings are built several small public spaces will be formed between the apartments.

Each unit is grouped around a small courtyard- the “center of the flower” - that provides a semi-private outdoor lobby called as "La-pa" for the residents away from the street.

There are six “L-Shaped” units that form the petals of the flower, and provide the building with its basic massing. In addition, there are two three-story mezzanine units on the north side of the building whose additional floor provides the required sunlight. Each unit is approximately 30 sqm.

To emphasize the petals of the massing, a deck terrace has been added that stretches between the units that expands the interior to the exterior. The apartment windows are oriented in such a way that they selectively edit the views of the surrounding suburban landscape highlighting the rural aspects of the site.


Flower Apartment complex in Tsudanuma, Chiba, Japan
Architects: Yuji Tanabe/YAA, Sachie Isaka/bews
Consultants: Jun Sato structural engineering
Site area: 387.8 sqm
Year: 2008-2009 (design), 2009-2010 (construction)