three ball cascade architects: mineral gallery

‘mineral gallery’ by three ball cascade architects, yokohama, japanimage © three ball cascade architects

situated within a suburban neighborhood in yokohama in a restored house that has been on sale for 35 years, japanese firm three ball cascade architects have designed a second home for a rockhound who needed a gallery and studio space, as well as a location for friends and family to gather. the timber frame house sits on a concrete foundation off the ground of a corner site. the geometric mass is carved at certain angles to allow light into the interior through the several unaligned windows of different sizes. being flanked by two busy streets, the structure is mostly solid facing the roads to block the noise pollution of passing cars, and opens with large sliding glass panels to a central protected courtyard paved small square sod sections. the interior program is organized around this moment of exterior repose. a combination of oak and exposed polished concrete flooring provide a variety of surfaces for different functions, with wood being used in a studio area that is also used for larger groups. a long hallway contains two timber-framed glass display cases attached to the walls running the entire length with several shelves to display the owner’s precious geological treasures in a comfortable retreat from the neighboring world.

driveway and entrance in a recessed sectionimage © three ball cascade architects

street-side elevationimage © three ball cascade architects

living spaceimage © three ball cascade architects

slender metal staircaseimage © three ball cascade architects

elevated gathering spaceimage © three ball cascade architects

hallway with mineral display casesimage © three ball cascade architects

image © three ball cascade architects

interior organized around the central courtyardimage © three ball cascade architects

separating door between living space and workshopimage © three ball cascade architects

central courtyardimage © three ball cascade architects

workspaceimage © three ball cascade architects

interior view from courtyardimage © three ball cascade architects

image © three ball cascade architects

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level 1

elevation

project info:

location: yokohamasite area: 201.28 sqmtotal area: 109.52 sqmconstructor: kato chu komuten(yoshiaki kato)structure: timberstructure engineer: kozo oshimamax. height: 6.597mstories: 2

three ball cascade architects (3)