Keiichi Hayashi Architect

The site of the house is located in the end of a narrow lane in a dense residential area. It is surrounded by retaining walls of adjacent plots which are raised on the north and east side. The house was designed for a young couple and their child on such a sunken site.

The house has many light wells which are randomly planed. The light wells have the same size and same square tube shape, and are also structure to support a roof. On the ground floor, each light well which has different angles, flames the sky randomly along with different positions. Inside of each light well is filled up with different quality of light depending on angles of light wells towards sunlight. The light wells penetrate through the first floor. It is also to make residents think usage of the space and activity. The position and angle of the light wells can be references for residents to create their own space by placing furniture in accordance with feelings and occasions.

To understand the space of the house, I thought of a space in a forest and a space in a grass land. There are many trees in a forest. And when people are in a forest, trees will become clues or reference points to create activities. Play of children for instance, they will run in zigzag along with trees, turn direction at the point of a tree, or hide themselves behind trees, which means trees are creating rule of a play. A grass land on the other hand, children will be able to run at full speed or to play in a large circle and in a small circle without any obstacles. In this case, vastness is creating a rule of a play. In this small house, I thought that light wells which may be thought obstacles in one point of view, become like trees in a forest to create an unexpected flexible and free space. And I wished that it would give the residents the joy of life.