Ichijo is an intervention located in Bunkyo City Ward, Tokyo, designed to occupy a vacant space between two buildings. It serves as a small retreat focused on meditation, offering a quiet place for visitors away from the noise of the city. The design concept turns an often ignored part of urban life into a meaningful area for reflection, providing an experience that contrasts with the fast pace of the surrounding streets.

Design Concept
The primary aim of Ichijo is to create a meditative space. The cabin measures just two square meters and sits two meters above the street. This height provides visitors with a sense of separation from urban activity while allowing them to observe the city from a new perspective. The design encourages contemplation and relaxation, making it an ideal spot for users to pause and engage with their thoughts.

Material Choices
The cabin's structure features Japanese cedar wood sourced sustainably, which links the design to the local context. It is clad with opaque polycarbonate, which helps to reduce distractions from the street while still letting natural light into the interior. The careful selection of materials helps create a calm environment, focusing attention on the experience of being inside the cabin rather than the bustling city outside.

Functional Design
Inside, Ichijo includes a flooring space that matches the dimensions of a traditional tatami mat, offering enough room for users to lie down comfortably. This design element supports the cabin's overall purpose as a retreat, promoting a sense of warmth and ease. The layout is intentional, encouraging users to slow down and engage with their surroundings in a deliberate way.

Adaptability
A significant feature of Ichijo is how easily it can be assembled and disassembled without glue. This modular design allows for flexibility in use and location, making it suitable for different contexts within the city. It reflects a contemporary understanding of sustainability in architecture by minimizing waste and allowing for reconfiguration as needs change.

The design of Ichijo is further enhanced by operable windows, which introduce fresh air and create a connection to the outside. Visitors can feel the environment shift as they open the windows, bridging the interior and exterior. This interaction deepens the experience, inviting users to engage with both the tranquil space of the cabin and the vibrancy of urban life beyond.