The client asked FujiwaraMuro Architects to create a small solarium in the house. To make this space more attractive, it was decided to suspend the glass box, making it float in the air.
The solarium provides light to the different spaces on both floors thanks to its ability to reflect and diffuse, on the glass, the light coming from the gap in the upper part of the ceiling. From the kitchen, located on the ground floor, the plants in the solarium can be seen thanks to the glass floor, giving that appearance of floating in the air.
The interior finishes of steel and concrete create different atmospheres, allowing users to perceive the same space in different ways over time.
Sunroom House by FujiwaraMuro Architects. Photograph by Katsuya Taira.
Project description by FujiwaraMuro Architects
The house is in a quiet residential area where the client's old family home originally stood, the brief was to design a new building to replace the old one. The overall composition divides the building into two volumes, with a LDK (living room, dining room and kitchen) and private rooms arranged separately. The main space is designed with split floors to increase the feeling of spaciousness, creating connections not only in plan but also in cross section so that one can communicate with others in the dining room and kitchen.
In response to the client's request for a solarium in the LDK, its form was studied. While considering the idea of reducing the volume of the building, cutting costs, making the solarium look more attractive and considering how people might spend time there, it was decided to explore the idea of making it float in the air.
The suspended solarium, located in the center of the building, reflects and diffuses the light above onto the glass, making the entire solarium shine, and the reflected light illuminates unforeseen areas on the various floors and walls throughout the room. The plants in the solarium can be viewed from below to enjoy the unusual appearance of floating in the air.
At night, the entire glass box of the solarium shines like a lamp, illuminating the entire space. Steel and concrete finishes are revealed in various places, and you can see how their expressions change over time. This is one of the things that can be enjoyed in this house. The space that is created has a unique atmosphere, and family members can discover various ways to view the house and spend time there in their daily lives.
