The house I take you to visit today (virtually!) left me breathless!
Do you know the Netflix series “The world’s most extraordinary homes“? I love it! It’s a series in which, in each episode, they bring us to discover 4 houses with original and interesting architectures and each episode is dedicated to a country. Despite the fact that I like almost all the houses, the one I saw in the episode dedicated to Japan really stole my heart.
It is the “Optical glass house” designed by the japanese studio hiroshi nakamura & NAP.
The lot in which the house was built is located near a very busy road in the city of Hiroshima. The architect’s aim was therefore to create an oasis of peace by acoustically and visually “protecting” the house from the chaos of the city. This barrier was made through a wall of glass bricks (6000!) which, while allowing the city’s movements to glimpse and letting light filter through, manages to partially isolate the house. But there’s more: this glass wall hides an interior garden with maple, ash and holly trees that create a green oasis visible from all floors of the house. A real natural refuge!
The interiors also contribute to this feeling of peace: Japan’s minimalism, clean and essential lines, materials like concrete, stone and marble and practically no decoration. However, thanks to the extensive use of wood, the environment in my opinion is not at all aseptic and cold. I know that lately I’m tending more towards the use of color and “richer” decorations in interiors (which is also the trend of the moment) but then, when I see so minimal and essential interiors, I start questioning myself because I like them so much. What do you think about it?
Project: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP
Loved it! I sure would like to know the brand of the pair of orange chairs.
Hello John, I was curious but couldn’t find the pair of orange chairs you are talking about… Perhaps the one chair in the bedroom facing the desk? If it is, then i would say that it is a Stokke Tripp Trapp.
Another place with a glass facade, like this, is the Crystal Houses in Amsterdam… Fantastic building; my favorite in the city..
I will check it! Thanks for the tip!
So glad you wrote about this, this house fascinates me as well. The indoor gardens are truly a gem, and I also began to question “trinkets” in the house. I think it only works well when the furniture and surrounding architecture are of such quality that it seems to speak for itself. It is a truly amazing build! Thanks for sharing!