House in Kobe
Surrounded by monotonous suburban developments, this house is distinguished by a sculptural, cubic form that seems as if it were composed of a series of additive blocks. From the street, all one sees is a largely closed front with a passageway leading to the entrance courtyard. The other elements of the building remain concealed; there is no indication of the true nature of the house. The complex structure reveals itself fully only from the courtyard and in particular from the staircase tower with its large areas of glazing. The skilful exploitation of the tight site area resulted in an interweaving of internal and external space at many points with constantly changing perspectives and visual links inside the building. The various layers and volumes are defined solely by the fine grid of the wired glass.
