K2-design's flat 40 in japan balances privacy and openness

K2-design’s ‘flat 40’ in japan balances privacy and openness

photo © takahiro shimokawa

all images courtesy of keisuke kawaguchi+K2-design

this japanese house by keisuke kawaguchi+K2-design is named after the 40 meter-long ukikabe (a floating screen wall) designed to

provide privacy from the seven-story apartment building across the street. the concrete wall is offset 1.5 meters from the face of the building;

the support for this massive concrete structure was precisely calculated. its visual heaviness is balanced by a corridor of light and air at the perimeter.

the opaque wall contrasts with the transparent glass walls to the north and at the courtyards, providing practical harmony of privacy and openness.

raised off the ground plane, the family can see the feet of people approaching the house, while having privacy from the street.

fresh air enters the home from under the ukikabe, then flows down the corridor to the courtyard.

located in ehime prefecture, the elongated site is reminiscent of the shimanami kaido expressway that connects the imbari city to six islands in

the seto inland sea. the living spaces are organized off of a central hallway which divides the house into two parts. to the south,

the rooms are elevated on a skip floor, or mezzanine. underneath this level there is ample storage to encourage visual simplicity in daily living.

full height opaque partitions separate bed and bathrooms. in contrast, the primary living rooms remain open to one another without

walls in the east-west direction. to the north, high ceilings, expanses of glass, and skylights connect the indoors and outdoors,

allowing ample daylight to fill the space, and views of the outdoor pool and courtyard, trees and sky, to create a tranquil environment.

 the ukikabe blocks views into the house from the neighboring apartment building

photo © takahiro shimokawa

 as one approaches the house their feet can be seen under the ukikabe

photo © takahiro shimokawa

 the house takes advantage of the long narrow site, organizing program linearly, as if it were an expressway

photo © toru kitamura

 courtyards allow light and exterior views, while the ukikabe maintains privacy

photo © takahiro shimokawa

 the house is build as a split-level. (left): the play room has a high ceiling (right): the kitchen and dining area are on the upper level

photo © takahiro shimokawa

detailing carries the idea of the split level through the house. (left): the courtyard (right): the play room

photo © takahiro shimokawa

 the continuous wooden ceiling unites all living spaces in the house

photo © takahiro shimokawa, toru kitamura

 on the north side of the house, bedrooms open completely to the outdoors with glass walls

photo ©  toru kitamura

the ukikabe floats 1.5 meters off the face of the house

photo © takahiro shimokawa

 the heaviness of the wall is balanced by the mass of the house

photo ©  toru kitamura

 the white finish of the screen wall and roof reflect light, dramatically changing the house’s appearance throughout the dayphoto © toru kitamura

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