fuse atelier: house in abiko

‘house in abiko’ by fuse-atelier in abiko, chiba prefecture, japan all images courtesy fuse-atelier

tokyo-based fuse-atelier (shigeru fuse) has completed ‘house in abiko’, a three-storey private dwelling in abiko, chiba prefecture, japan. conceived for a couple who collects furniture as a hobby, the design revolves around an open and brought living room that is flexible for multiple configurations.

the façade oriented to face the street

situated on a tight site flanked by neighbouring structures, the monolithic form is constructed from reinforced concrete and features a multitude of faceted corners. two volumes protrude out of the street facade to create an overhang above the entrance and the car park. the larger cantilevered arm is fronted with a single plane of glass which permits sunlight to enter the interior.

back of the plot

accommodated on the second storey, the main living space sits elevated over the street with a double-height void above it. the language of the faceted exterior is continued to the interior, manifesting as a dynamic multi-angled ceiling form. this heightened focal point extends the sense of space vertically, resulting in a room that is exceptionally open and airy, despite the heaviness of the material used. a punched-out sky light and another square-faced window to the back of the plot coupled with the reflective white floor maximizes the amount of natural daylight entering the house.

(left) cantilevered arm (right) street view

interior view

views of the ceiling

looking down on the living space

kitchen and mezzanine level

views of cantilevered staircases

night views

project info:

structure: reinforced concrete storeys: three above grade site area: 181.44 sqm built area: 53.50 sqm total floor area: 53.50 sqm