Extra Small, But Super-Interesting
John Hill
11. January 2023
Photo: Screenshot
In a new film by Akira Koyama, founder and owner of KEY OPERATION INC. / ARCHITECTS, the Tokyo architect gives an on-site tour of Ginza Extra Small Building, a five-story commercial building with a tiny footprint.
Like previous videos from KEY OPERATION (a few are listed below), the 18-minute film on Ginza Extra Small Building allows for many more insights into the building than the shorter films that predominate these days. The level of information makes it a video case study. Ginza Extra Small does not look like a particularly interesting building at first glance, but the numerous practical considerations and the process of constructing the building make for an engaging watch. Some of the more interesting points include learning about the foundation used for the 5m x 6m site, realizing what happened to the building's neighbor, and seeing how the stairs, elevator, structure, piping, and other services are squeezed into a tiny piece of super-expensive land.