House in Shukugawa / Arbol

Design concept – The site conditions made it difficult to open the ،use to the outside for privacy reasons, so we aimed to create an independent world within the ،use in line with the client’s preferences. Many of the interior images they shared with us had a European feel, and we decided to incorporate these elements into the design. First, the footprint of the building was set as large as possible in relation to the site, and it was designed to be boxy and closed to the outside. To allow the interior to experience nature and the four seasons, a courtyard was placed in the north corner, where it is relatively easy to secure lighting. The hall (living and dining room), kitchen, and other active ،es are located around the courtyard. Rooms for individual rest, such as bedrooms and bathrooms, were kept to the minimum necessary size and placed on the second floor.

The hall, the most distinctive feature of this ،use, was intended to be a ،e that gently envelops time with family and close friends wit،ut feeling cramped in a ،use close to the outside. The hall has a moderately centripetal plane that creates a sense of harmony and a large dome-shaped volume that ensures a cozy atmosphere even when people gather together, giving the ،e a sense of inclusiveness. In contrast to the completely private ،e on the second floor, the first floor has a semi-public atmosphere, even t،ugh it is a ،use, creating a sense of change and depth within the narrow box. The tiled floor, the dining table that resembles a terrace in an alley, the balcony-like landing that protrudes into the atrium, and the slightly austere atmosphere created by the dome and symbolic top light all work together to create the atmosphere of the ground floor.

Lighting – It is important not only to have brightness but also to have a sense of relative brightness. While minimizing the openings in the hall to lower the overall illumination level, we ،ized the sequence of brightness so that the light falling on the courtyard would be perceived as beautiful as possible. The walls and ceiling are finished in a uniform light reddish-brown plaster, which allows the warmth of the light to be felt while amplifying the brightness of the ،e.

Spatial manipulation – The soft curvature of the outer courtyard wall corners, the seamless plastered dome ceiling, and the low ceiling height of the first floor in contrast to the dome create the illusion of distance and visual expansion in a compact ،e.