Most homes try to maximize the view, but this Toyonaka, Japan home blocks it altogether. The “House in Toyonaka” designed by FujiwaraMuro Architects consists of three concrete bands that are connected to one another by small strips of glass.
The “windows” let just enough light into the house to cast small rays of sun over the bare interior. The glazed minimalism serves a purpose, say the architects. The house is in a dense neighborhood with buildings and neighbors on all sides – the windowless facade is a way of ensuring privacy and creating a distinctive aesthetic.
Photo: Katsuya Taira / Studio Rem
“The smallness of these openings is exactly what makes the sudden glimpses of the sky or the street scene they offer so striking,” the architects told Dezeen. Also noteworthy is the way sunlight passes through them. They serve as a means of alerting residents that sunlight is constantly changing over time. “
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Photo: Katsuya Taira / Studio Rem
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Photo: Katsuya Taira / Studio Rem
Despite its intentional blocking, the interior of the house still feels relatively airy thanks to high ceilings and cool tones. Thin, glazed cutouts reflect the windows and adorn the residents with a funny, unexpected view of the level below.
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