masahiko sato: H house channels corbu with polychrome cutouts

masahiko sato: H house channels corbu with polychrome cutouts
image © blitz STUDIO/toshihisa ishii
all images courtesy of architect show

masahiko sato of the local firm architect show has designed H house for a young family in the green metropolis of fukuoka. affectionately known as ‘race round the house’ the design is a crisp succession of volumes and mass, albeit with a twist– wall-thick cutouts highlighted in bright colors accent the stairwell and mezzanine knee wall. channeling a polychrome version of corbu’s ronchamp, the geometric apertures create colorful recessed spaces that visually define areas of major activity. the smattering of vibrant hues enlivens the main well of the living space as well as the enclosing wall of the stair. interior circulation seems to be organized around the exuberant energy of the client’s children, insofar as an outdoor courtyard lintel becomes a beam for a swing and the colorful cutouts are positively reflected in a modest climbing wall. the home is afforded the courtyard despite the urban site due to an overall strategy of subtraction on the house. this is an architecture formed by recessed masses as well as the space-making capacity of color and diffused light.

 
(left): a climbing wall and swing in the back yard are designed for the youngest members of the family
(right): brightly framed cutouts in the stairwell add an element of play to the home
image © blitz STUDIO/toshihisa ishii

large glass window and an open floor plan allow parents to see children playing in and outdoors
image © blitz STUDIO/toshihisa ishii

there are fewer hiding places in this house than in one with less imaginative walls
image © blitz STUDIO/toshihisa ishii

(left): view of the living space and playroom from the balcony
(right): the long narrow site feels spacious with a double height living area and ample storage under the stair
image © blitz STUDIO/toshihisa ishii

the yard is fun for all ages
image © blitz STUDIO/toshihisa ishii

the shifted tectonic balances indoor and outdoor space
image © blitz STUDIO/toshihisa ishii

alternating black and white finishes ‘race round the house’
image © blitz STUDIO/toshihisa ishii