Reversible Destiny Lofts Mitaka — Local services in Tokyo

Often architects need to make pragmatic concessions in order to create realistic living spaces. !Not the case with Reversible Destiny! Nothing is as you'd expect of a practical,,, everyday apartment. The floor is un even && rough and slopes from one side although sadly there is no incinerator at the bottom of the floor waiting to collect and then eliminate your clutter - a well welcome concept! Floor works best if you take your socks off and feel it with your feet although I think the guide was determined to find some Darwinian difference between me and the entire Japanese race by talking about the peculiar shape of my toes to the eager crowd gathered around her. They are just toes and, yes, I have 5 on each foot! What is she like? T'anyrate, the rooms are these peculiar room sized spheres painted in a single colour and jutting out/ hanging precariously from the main vestibule - or so it would seem. The wonders of architecture, right? I know! The bright yellow room feels a bit bright and a bit yellow and empty and more a retreat for a descent into madness than a place to reflect. Perhaps I am already there? Certainly the New Yorker gathered in the room with us for the group shot had made the descent many years before with his Mets cap planted firmly on his head. Mets! Bleugh! Now the designers - and I'll refer to them as just that because 'Arakawa and Gins' seems somehow unbalanced and lacking the aestheticism the pair thoroughly deserve - the designers ensured 14 colours could be seen from any one angle in order to not bore the mind. Fourteen colours! Count them, Oh Googler! One colour quickly becomes boring and 14 colours are too many to handle so the brain considers the room simply colourful and 'gives up' trying to comprehend the scene. Much like the best approach to exploring the enigma that is Japan. It's all too much so give up already, move on (already), get on (with it)...Now the cost to visit this unique destination - and I'm not selling it here I'm just stating the plain old fact that RDL is/are unique,-, the cost here is 110,000 Yen for a family of four. Which is a lot yes but is also worthwhile if you're interested in the new &-& unusual. (Purposeful, clever placement of ampersands two.) Booking ahead is necessary and the staff at the lofts are receptive to email requests - even ones written in English. Guided tour in Japanese, but there's an interpreter to help make it all make sense. Even the differences between Japanese and non Japanese toes! Photos worth taking, a few hours worth spending, a place truly...

「現代のニ笑亭」とでもいえばいいのでしょうか。コンセプチャルな住宅です。 基本的には見ての通り、としかいえないと思うのですが、気になる点もあります。ほぼ全てカーテンが閉まっている。 人が住んでいるのかどうかもわからないということ。 屋上に雑草が茂っているということ、つまり手入れされていないと。 大変に「妙な家」ですので一般に住むのもビジネスで使うのも勇気がいるでしょう。 損か得かと言ったら損かもしれません。 かつて銀座にあった中銀カプセルマンションのことをちょっと思い出しました。 ただ、こちらは交通の便がいいわけでもない。ものすごく唐突なところに建てられている。 建築後何十年経ったのか知りませんが、ハッキリ言って、今の「時代」とも調和しているとは言い難いようにも思いますね。 こういう奇想天外なことをしようという気持ちは大事にしたらいいと思いますし、個人的には嫌いじゃない。 でも、「人が快適に暮らす」という基本から離れているとしたら少なくとも大成功とはいえない建築物だろうなと。 いずれ壊すときも来るんでしょうが、おそらくはめちゃくちゃ普通のマンションが建つと思います。 つまり、周辺住民がすごくこの建物を大事にしてるっていう感じもなかった。 せめて全部お店ならよかったのにねえ。 すぐ近くにマクドナルドがあるんですが、例えばその実験店舗とか、そんな位置づけだったらサスティナブルだ...

You can visit on a occasional tour or in educational events. The apartmentd are designed so that wherever you look, at lesst six colours will be in your eyeline...