Ghost House by Datar Architecture

Datar Architecture's Ghost House in Tokyo, designed in 2006, uses a stark, all-white façade and intricate interior to explore the interplay of absence and presence, evoking a ghostly yet dynamic architectural narrative.

In 2006, Datar Architecture unveiled the Ghost House in Tokyo's Suginami ward, a work that at first glance, might appear as a blank canvas but unfolds into a deeply nuanced architectural statement. Embracing the archetypal form of a primitive hut, the Ghost House transcends simplicity through its stark, monochromatic palette and exaggerated, ghostly silhouette.

Externally, the house embodies an ethereal presence. Its scaleless, all-white façade renders it almost invisible, a mute character in the urban landscape. This choice of color and form—a pure, undisturbed white—serves as a deliberate attempt to strip the architecture of any overt expression, transforming it into a serene, almost spectral entity. The building’s silhouette, while simple in essence, is exaggerated to enhance this ghostly, otherworldly quality, as if it were a drawing brought to life yet devoid of tangible substance.

Internally, however, the Ghost House reveals a contrasting complexity. Despite its seemingly minimal exterior, the interior spaces are intricately crafted to meet the specific eccentricities of the client’s requirements. The accommodation spans three levels, interconnected by a labyrinthine network of ramps and steps. This internal landscape challenges conventional notions of scale and spatial organization, creating a dynamic, almost theatrical environment. The use of white inside—mirroring the exterior—creates a seamless continuity, yet the intricate spatial arrangements inject a sense of unpredictability and whimsy, deviating from the house's silent exterior narrative.

Datar Architecture’s Ghost House stands as a profound exploration of absence and presence, simplicity and complexity. By embracing a ghostly aesthetic, the architects prompt a dialogue between the building and its environment, between the exterior’s silence and the interior’s expressive dynamism. It’s a testament to the power of architectural design to evoke emotion and provoke thought, blurring the boundaries between the seen and the unseen, the real and the imagined.

Photography: Takeshi Yamagishi
Text: Hitoshi Arato

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