[II] Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP

Last november we show you the winners of the 2012 ar+d (the Architectural Review + d line) Emerging Architecture Award for young professionals under the age of 45. This is a second issue about the project by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP, the video an more images about the Optical Glass House.

Courtyard. Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura, Hiroshima, Japan. Photography © Koji Fujii / Nacasa & Partners. © Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Co.,Ltd.

If you want more information about project link here!

CREDITS.

Architect.- Hiroshi Nakamura & Nap Co.,Ltd.
Structure design.- Yasushi Moribe.
Contractor.- Imai Corporation.
Location.- Naka-Ku, Hiroshima-Shi, Hiroshima, Japan.
Program.- Housing.
Site area.- 243.73 m²
Total floor area.- 363.51 m²
Completion year.- March, 2012.
Structure: Reinforced Concrete Structure

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Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura, Hiroshima, Japan. Photography © Koji Fujii / Nacasa & Partners. © Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Co.,Ltd.

Living room open to garden. Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura, Hiroshima, Japan. Photography © Koji Fujii / Nacasa & Partners. © Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Co.,Ltd.

Interior view to gardenCourtyard. Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura, Hiroshima, Japan. Photography © Koji Fujii / Nacasa & Partners. © Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Co.,Ltd.

Stairs. Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura, Hiroshima, Japan. Photography © Koji Fujii / Nacasa & Partners. © Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Co.,Ltd.

Cabinets abinets and storage hidden in the wall. Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura, Hiroshima, Japan. Photography © Koji Fujii / Nacasa & Partners. © Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Co.,Ltd.

Section and ground floor plan. Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP, Hiroshima, Japan.

Night view. Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura, Hiroshima, Japan. Photography © Koji Fujii / Nacasa & Partners. © Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Co.,Ltd.

Details. Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP, Hiroshima, Japan.

The 13-ton facade made up of 6,000 glass blocks, each measuring 50mm x 235mm x 50mm. With their large mass-per-unit area, the crystalline glass blocks effectively shut out the urban noise and create a sparkling backdrop for the garden with modulated city views. Their high degree of transparency was achieved by using borosilicate, the material used to make optical glass. The difficult casting process required slow cooling to remove residual internal stress and achieve precise dimensions

The glass block façade weighs around 13 tons.

The supporting beam, if constructed of concrete, would therefore be of massive size. Employing steel frame reinforced concrete, they pre-tensioned the steel beam and gave it an upward camber. Then, after giving it the load of the façade, they cast concrete around the beam and, in this way, minimized its size.

Site plan. Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura, Hiroshima, Japan.

Gound floor plan. Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura, Hiroshima, Japan.

First floor plan. Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura, Hiroshima, Japan.

Second floor plan. Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura, Hiroshima, Japan.

Section. Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura, Hiroshima, Japan.

Detail section. Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura, Hiroshima, Japan.

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HIROSHI NAKAMURA

Hiroshi Nakamura. Born in Tokyo, 1974. Completed the Master Course, Department of Architecture, Graduated from the University of Meiji with M.Architecture Degree, 1999. Chief engineer in Kengo Kuma&Associates, 1999-2002. Established First Class Architect Office / Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Co., Ltd. / Currently this office representative director, 2002.

Awards. Grand Prize, JCD Design Award 2006 / Grand Prize, GOOD DESIGN AWARD 2008 / ShinKenchiku Award 2010 / Design Vanguard 2010 ARCHITECTURAL RECORD TOP 10 architect in the world (USA).

Works. Dancing trees Singing birds, House C, Roku museum.

Publishing. Microscopic Designing Methodology (INAX Publishing) / Love in Architecture(ASCII) / Reading Skills of Architects(TOTO).