studio noa: house in yotsukaido

‘house in yotsukaido’ by studio noa, chiba, japan images courtesy of studio noa

located in the suburb area of chiba, japan, ‘house in yotsukaido’ by tokyo based practice studio noa, is a residence that looks to merge the boundaries between private interior space and the outlying environmental context.

a solid black form cantilevers over a semi-opaque volume, inverting the traditional structural orientation. enclosing the ground floor, the cloudy surface provides an area to transition the homeowner between the contrasting atmospheres. housing an internal garden and stoney pathway, the corridor acts as a greenhouse, introducing natural light and vegetation into the private home. at night, interior lights radiate through the translucent skin, illuminating the solid black structure, which appears to float in the sky.

side elevation

a protected terrace connects to the main body of the home which contains the principal living spaces. large, thick walls surround the outdoor area, shielding the family from outside eyes, while maintaining a sense of exposure to the outdoors and nature. a single square opening cuts through the enclosure, framing a nearby retention basin and the neighborhood beyond.

contrasting exterior cladding

main floor courtyard and garden space

kitchen, living, dining

terrace off main living space

night view

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level 1

elevation

elevation

elevation

elevation

section

longitudinal section