The apartment is located 1 km to the north of "ASAKUSA"( Tokyo ) in "YOSHIWARA" , famous place for "YURAKU"(genre-place/place for amusement)It is steel-frame constructed , and the wall outside is made by ALC (Autoclaved Lightweight Concrete). The shadow line limit cut off the building , upper 3rd floor , as a result it owns a large balcony. It is a very ordinary apartment with a triangular side view. Our project was to repair one room on the 4th floor and to make the balcony area effectually. The large balcony occupies one thirds of all the area, but had no opening, which is conscious of outside. You will feel great outside on the balcony, but unfortunately there were no influence to the interior space.
Initially we planned to repair the opening. Fortunately it was steel-frame constructed, so we could take all south side walls off and set a folding door. Secondly we set bathroom on the balcony area, because this area was already waterproofed. Finally there were no more boundaries between inside and outside area. The new bathroom makes us be conscious and familiar to the balcony every day.
To ease the visual boundary between two areas, we planned two movements. First we used visually same-looking wood-material at this two areas and took the boundary by sashes and the difference in level away. Next, we moved "material-replacing point" to the center of the room. If this point exists at the edge of the room, it will causes a stringent contrast. Now the balcony and the interior area seems to be one connected area.
The project "house YOSHIWAWA" became a good chance to think about the "shadow line limit".
Not only as a renovation project, also as a newly-built project.
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