Architecture

Hiroshima's Optical Glass House constructed using 6,000 glass bricks

Hiroshima's Optical Glass House constructed using 6,000 glass bricks
Architecture studio Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP has designed the “Optical Glass House” in Hiroshima, Japan (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
Architecture studio Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP has designed the “Optical Glass House” in Hiroshima, Japan (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
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Architecture studio Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP has designed the “Optical Glass House” in Hiroshima, Japan (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
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Architecture studio Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP has designed the “Optical Glass House” in Hiroshima, Japan (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
Filtered light also enters the house through a water basin skylight (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
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Filtered light also enters the house through a water basin skylight (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
The 6,000 glass blocks are cast to produce high transparency using borosilicate, the raw material for optical glass (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
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The 6,000 glass blocks are cast to produce high transparency using borosilicate, the raw material for optical glass (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
The glass facade faces the busy road and shows-off the tree filled courtyard in the space behind it (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
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The glass facade faces the busy road and shows-off the tree filled courtyard in the space behind it (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
The living space is protected by a sputter- coated lightweight metal curtain (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
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The living space is protected by a sputter- coated lightweight metal curtain (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
The glass block facade and courtyard acoustically protect residents from the main road outside (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
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The glass block facade and courtyard acoustically protect residents from the main road outside (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
The first floor garden and facade are positioned to maximize sunlight from the east and provide a visual link to the city (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
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The first floor garden and facade are positioned to maximize sunlight from the east and provide a visual link to the city (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
The glass block facade weighs 13 tonnes (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
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The glass block facade weighs 13 tonnes (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
The glass block facade weighs 13 tons (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
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The glass block facade weighs 13 tons (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
The 8.6 sq m glass wall is supported by 75 stainless steel rods suspended from a reinforced concrete steel frame (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
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The 8.6 sq m glass wall is supported by 75 stainless steel rods suspended from a reinforced concrete steel frame (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
Architect Hiroshi Nakamura previously worked with Kengo Kuma (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
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Architect Hiroshi Nakamura previously worked with Kengo Kuma (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
The glittering facade and small scale contrast with the high tech wide avenues that has characterized the reconstruction of Hiroshima (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
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The glittering facade and small scale contrast with the high tech wide avenues that has characterized the reconstruction of Hiroshima (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
In 2012 the Optical House won an ar+d Awards for Emerging Architecture (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
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In 2012 the Optical House won an ar+d Awards for Emerging Architecture (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
Second floor plan of the Optical Glass House (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
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Second floor plan of the Optical Glass House (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
First floor plan of the Optical Glass House (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
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First floor plan of the Optical Glass House (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
Ground floor plan of the Optical Glass House (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
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Ground floor plan of the Optical Glass House (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
Sectional diagram of the Optical Glass House (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
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Sectional diagram of the Optical Glass House (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
View gallery - 17 images

Architecture studio Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP has designed the “Optical Glass House” in Hiroshima, Japan, that aims to acoustically protect residents from the main road outside, whilst providing light and views for the residents within. The delicate glass blocks belie the structure and a complex casting process is employed to create the 13 ton (11.7 tonne) facade that shows-off the buildings tree-filled courtyard and looks like a shimmering waterfall to the outside world.

Located amongst the tall buildings of downtown Hiroshima, the first floor garden and glass facade are positioned on the street side of the structure to maximize sunlight from the east and provide a visual link to the city. Light filters through the 6,000 glass blocks that are cast to produce high transparency using borosilicate, the raw material for optical glass. The casting process involved slow cooling of the 50 x 235 x 50 mm (1.96 x 9.25 x 1.96 in) blocks to remove the residual stress necessary for their combined function in the facade.

At a size of 8.6 sq mt (92.5 sq ft) the glass wall is supported by 75 stainless steel rods suspended from a reinforced concrete and steel frame, that puncture through holes in the glass blocks. Lateral stress is also reduced by embedding a 40 x 4 mm (1.57 x 0.16 in) steel flat bar within the glass blocks at 10 cm intervals. This reinforcement stipulated a 6 mm (0.24 in) sealing joint between blocks that enables the transparent effect to be achieved.

The 6,000 glass blocks are cast to produce high transparency using borosilicate, the raw material for optical glass (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)
The 6,000 glass blocks are cast to produce high transparency using borosilicate, the raw material for optical glass (Image: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP)

The concentration of filtered light is also realized through the water basin skylight of the entrance hall, whilst the open living room located on the far side of the oasis courtyard is only protected from the elements with a sputter-coated lightweight metal curtain. All in all, the light-filled small scale of this single home is a delicate contrast to the high-tech wide avenues that have characterized the reconstruction of Hiroshima.

Hiroshi Nakamura worked under the famous Japanese architect Kengo Kuma before setting up his own studio in 2002, and in 2012 the Optical House earned his studio an ar+d award for emerging architecture.

A video revealing the transition from the outside to inside of this house can be seen below.

Source: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP via archilovers

Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP

View gallery - 17 images
4 comments
4 comments
Arjan de Lange
very nice, i like the wide fireplace
Fahrenheit 451
Stunning...on so many levels.
David Priol
Places like this make the world more enjoyable and allow so many new ideas to develop instead of the boring crap that fills all the major cities in the world...
kalqlate
The water basin skylight is a great idea! How entertaining it would also be if it were a continuously filtered and cleaned koi or goldfish pond.