Artistic Composition

By Teresa Simon

Photography: Toshihisa Ishii; courtesy the architects

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This simple home in Fukuoka city, Japan speaks volumes for compositional art through  architecture...

Fukuoka is urbane, green - a contemporary shell rooted in traditional Japanese architecture. Ar. Masahiko Sato’s residential project named ‘Shell’, located a short distance away from Fukuoka city epitomizes the ethos of its surrounds.

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Enshrined in a residential neighbourhood, with its north end open to traffic, the primary premise of the design is focussed on reducing decibel levels, and giving the inmates their privacy and security.

 

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Largely made of wood with its natural grains adding a touch of whimsy to the structure, the home is a simple composition of white and umber. Large window cut-outs help the home look outside. While the outer wall is without any punctures on its north side, an exterior-interior dialogue is encouraged via a cosy courtyard along the south wall. Living areas are designed to open into the courtyard; ushering in just the right quotient of vibrancy and sunshine of the humid sub-tropical climate into the home.

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Composed like a piece of fine art, the aesthetic is enhanced with the juxtaposition of the white walls and wooden flooring and ceiling. Attention to detail in terms of the staircase and the girders suspended midway add to the spatial vocabulary as they cut across the volume of the space in the living area inside. The same composition of white and umber lend the home a chic urbane appeal on the exterior.

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The home has five large bedrooms and is spread across two levels over a built-up area of about 200 sq. mt. With parking for two cars, While the layout is simple and open, light plays a significant role in dressing up the interiors with strategic chiaroscuro elements that alternate between highlighting the architectural details as well as that of the interiors. It is a house that is designed for comfortable living.