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