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This house has no windows. Instead, 60 narrow slit are arranged in a 105-meter long wall. It is located in a riverside of Soma River which runs through Koga City into Lake Biwa. Design was by Taiyo JINNO and Anna NAKAMURA of Eastern Design Office. Since the four-meter high wall runs approximately 50 meters on the long narrow site, the exterior of the house looks like one large concrete wall. However, the randomly placed slits give one the impression that the interior is indeed a home. Inside, one is surprised by the brightness of the interior space. Although the slits are only 140 mm wide, they allow in sufficient light because they extend from the floor to the ceiling. In addition, the slits extend partly onto the ceiling to create a top light effect, and the lines of light emphasize the depth of the 36-meter long, perfectly straight hallway, giving rise to a dramatic beauty. The designers say that the challenge of the windows comprised the basic concept of the house. The light from the slits, even while soft, includes an element of stress. It is like the light from the stained glass windows of a cathedral, or the light streaming through the small windows of a classical building made of stone. In any case, the fact one senses possibilities, in slits is proof that the designers have succeeded in the challenge. This slit house indicates the existence of methods besides those of contemporary architecture and its extensive use of glass. Axis June issue, 2005. |
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