flow: si house

‘si house’ by flow in azami, japan all images courtesy flow

japanese architecture practice flow (takashi satoh) has sent us images of ‘si house’, a single-storey family home in a rural area of japan. seeking to dissolve the boundaries between the internal and external environments, the design features a large central courtyard that connects the house together.

exterior view

situated on a desolate plot adjacent to an elementary school, the low-lying structure is fronted by a large opening into the courtyard that serves as an entrance archway. a fabric curtain can be drawn to provide a translucent privacy for the outdoor space. mostly closed off to the immediate site, the facades that face inward to the courtyard are completely transparent through floor-to-ceiling glazine. additional natural light is drawn in by elevated windows that are placed on the slanted roof form that are inverted outwards.

street view

outdoor curtains closed

outdoor curtains opened

u-shaped in layout, the dwelling’s domestic program flow around the central courtyard. multiple visual connections are made between different areas of the house, layering the spaces around the outdoor pocket. as a result, the courtyard becomes a buffering zone between individual environments. the raised roof allows additional vertical space for a small loft level which overlooks the space below.

view of courtyard

view into the interior space

kitchen and living

view of courtyard from inside

ladder leading up to loft

loft and elevated windows

tatami room

lighting effect

courtyard at night