One thing that became clear following the global impact of Covid-19, is that we need physical space not only to face someone directly, but rather to share the same space with others without necessary speaking with them nor facing them. The way we confront others via online narrows the experience down to either ON or OFF conditions, and yet in most of the typical Japanese detached houses, with strict contrast between isolated small bedrooms and one large living room/dining room/kitchen combined, the experience of the physical living spaces end up being very similar to that of the online. In this house for a couple with a child, our intension is to create series of fragmented spaces within single ambiguous territory, through which each family members can freely hover and find their own positions, separated but still connected within the same space. This idea of providing choices of connection and isolation is what we believe the strength of physical space, and simultaneously can be defined as the “sense of belonging” in current day society.
The building is supported by two cubic timber frame structure overlapping to each other with a slight shift in positions. On the ground floor, the overlap of the frames form a cross-shaped core, which not only secures the bearing capacity but also houses equipment, storage, and stairs. The cross walls are designed to connect the living spaces through the perimeter corridor, while dividing them like a rotating stage set.
On the second floor, the perimeter is enclosed by a ring of storage and equipment volumes to secure the distance from the neighboring dwellings while allowing light from the second floor openings to fall to the ground floor through the openings. In contrast to the segmented space on the first floor, the second floor is a continuous space, divided softly with operable soundproof fabrics.
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location: Sashiougi, Saitama prefecture, Japan
total area: 103.50m2
team: NoRA + UAL (lead by Keigo Kobayashi & Haruka Uemura, Kentaro Nomura, Asato Nishida)
structural engineering: HK Inc. (Haruhide Kusumoto)
collaboration: Frank la Riviera Architects
construction: Builder’s Bridge Co.
produce: Shigeru Oshima (Misawa Home A-Project)
