Okinawa Multi Story
Okinawa
Tomoaki Koga
DESIGNER: Tomoaki Koga BUILDER: BUILD DATE:
LOCATION: Kouri Island, Okinawa, Japan PHOTO CREDITS: RATING: 4 Stars
This container tower sits on the north-west side of Kouri Island, a small island off the northern coast of Okinawa, looking straight out over the East China Sea. Owner Tomoaki Koga designed it himself, with no formal architectural training, as a home he could live in, work from and grow old in.
Stacked steel containers form a four-square block over four levels, topped by an open rooftop deck with panoramic views of the nearby islands and coastline. Inside, big openings frame the sea from almost every room, from the lookout-style kitchen up high to a bathroom where the bath faces the horizon, so you can watch the clouds, the sunset and the stars from the tub.
Build Method
The containers keep their steel shells, finished in a dark grey with balconies and steel railings wrapping each level. Koga fitted custom doors that can reconfigure whole layouts, so rooms can be thrown open to the breeze or closed right down.
That toughness is the point. Okinawa sits in the path of typhoons every year, and with the doors shut the steel structure feels completely stable and safe, which is where its "enhanced security" reputation comes from. There's no air conditioning, so the building relies on large windows and cross-breezes to stay cool.
More recently the building has also opened as a café and photo studio, with visitors heading up to the rooftop for the view.
Interbode Thoughts
We love how honest this one is. It doesn't hide the containers, it leans into them, using the steel to deal with typhoons and salt air while opening the walls up to an incredible sea view. It's also proof you don't need an architecture degree to build something special with containers. If you like the stacked look on a smaller scale, our HELI and STACK2 models are a great place to start. Great job Tomoaki!
Okinawa Multi Story Designs
Build or Buy
Guides
NEST Design & Build Plans
2 BED | 1 KIT | 1 BATH - Dimensions: W x D x H
NEST is a double unit 2X 20M (40ft) High Cube Shipping container design suitable for a small house/ holiday apartment use complete with regular kitchen and bathroom in both Grid and Off Grid configurations and with 1 Solar roof option.
Download detailed plans for NEST which include the following drawings in A3:
DRAWINGS SCHEDULES
PROJECT NOTES
FLOOR PLAN
REFLECTED CEILING
ROOF PLAN
ELEVATIONS
SECTIONS
INTERNAL ELEVATIONS
TYPICAL DETAILS
KITCHEN DRAWINGS
JOINERY DRAWINGS
BATHROOM DRAWINGS
ASSEMBLY DRAWINGS
WINDOW SCHEDULES
LIGHTING PLAN
POWER & SWITCHES PLAN
ELECTRICAL SCHEMATICS
FIXTURES & FINISHES SCHEDULE
Bespoke plans or amendments are also available from Interbode’s Design Studio. Contact Us: https://www.interbode.com
Notes:
Whilst detailed, this document is not for construction and is not intended to be compliant with all council or building regulations in your country or state. Prior to commencing build you should engage a suitable architect/drafts person and a qualified engineer.
All plans are copyright of Interbode Pty Ltd and Boxwood Construction Pty Ltd.