FUTURE STUDIO: light stage house

‘light stage house’ by FUTURE STUDIO in hiroshima, japan all images courtesy FUTURE STUDIO image © toshiyuki yano

japanese architecture practice FUTURE STUDIO (bunzo ogawa) has shared with us images of ‘light stage house’, a two-storey private dwelling in hiroshima, japan. situated on a plot that lacks southern light due to an adjacent structure, the design features curves and edgeless surfaces that maximize on the limited solar path, creating a receptacle for natural illumination for the spaces within.

exterior view image © toshiyuki yano

taking on an oblong volume, the exterior exhibits an industrial character with its slate-coloured finish and cylindrical form. square-shaped windows of various sizes randomly mark the surface, concealing the layout and proportions of the house within. autonomous and solid in stature, the design takes on a distinct visual identity on site.

east elevation image © toshiyuki yano

featuring two stories of different ceiling height, the design elevates the communal living space to the upper level, securing maximum daylight through a semicircular roof terrace which sits sunken in to the actual roof line. by installing the outdoor void space at a height that overlaps with the ceiling, the terrace becomes a vessel for daylight. the curved walls maximize on the effects of the sun while giving the sense of continuous space by creating a seamless surface. heavily tied to the solar position, the interior atmosphere shifts and changes throughout the day as well as the seasons.

(left) entrance (right) curved stairway images © toshiyuki yano