Art in form but not on the walls!

By Apollo Architects & Associates

Photography: Masao Nishikawa; courtesy Apollo Architects & Associates

  

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This residential project located in Obu city, Aichi prefecture, also houses a gallery space for the contemporary art collection of the client... 

A building with a distinct façade, the three-storey structure is hybrid in nature, comprising of a podium composed of reinforced concrete and glazing, and the floors above composed of galvanized steel siding; additionally, wooden boxes configured in two floor levels are placed on top of the podium, lending the exterior a distinct character with its different colours and a proportion that seemingly floats in space, growing larger as you go higher.

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Level 2 is cantilevered, in order to provide a garage space in pilotis style for two cars on the 1st floor level. A play of levels is seen here as the 1st floor podium is fully glazed on the street side to provide good visibility of the gallery, which, in turn, is lowered as a semi-underground sunken magnetic space. Strategically placed concrete partition blocks direct daylight in the gallery space, facilitating the appreciation of art via the light being reflected on the ceiling.  

 

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A separate staircase is dedicated to the residential part and direct access is provided to the 2nd floor level with gathered private spaces and a water body; and to the 3rd floor level with a family room. Those spaces are lit by daylight from the top light above the staircases and the balcony, filling the spaces with a gentle ambience.

 

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The interior finish and furniture of the family room is intentionally given monotonous colours with the utmost simplicity, allowing this space to be converted from a living space into an alternative gallery space in the future to exhibit the homeowner’s art collection. It will be a viewing room, for living together with art without loosing sense of privacy, by making good use of inner balcony and other elements for fully reducing openings of the building directly connecting to the outside. 

 

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This inward-looking abode by Ar. Satoshi Kurosaki represents an architectural vocabulary that is simple and direct yet leaves a mark. Surprisingly, for a client, who’s intent on surrounding himself with beautiful art, the home appears quite spartan with all the art relegated only to the gallery space!