GEOMETRY OF LIGHT
If you think that the view is not more important than architecture. Rectangle of Light by the Japanese architect Jun Igarashi will appeal to you. The little house in the city of Sapporo is an absolute embodiment of the traditional Japanese inclination to minimalism – from the point of view of the exterior it looks more like a big wooden cube, and that in fact it is a house is prompted only by the door on the front side and the set of three vertical rectangular windows at the back.
As the several small ventilation windows are covered by parts of the exterior wooden paneling, the glass rectangle is the only source of natural lighting in the house. On the inside it leads into a narrow corridor, which brings the already scattered light into the living room. This solution has to do with the theme of light and darkness, which interests Igarashi from a philosophical point of view, and which he manages to interpret successfully by means of the architecture.
The interior is also consistent with the idea of the contrast between light and dark -the walls are painted in white, and the floor – in rich grey. The two floors are separated by a medial wooden platform, which plays the role of an indoor terrace and provides an access to the bedroom. The different levels are connected with each other by classical wooden stairs, which apart from saving space are an interesting communicative solution. The idea of the ground floor being partially dug info the ground, which automatically increases the height of the ceilings, is practical. The furniture is used sparingly, in tune with the notion that little is more the simple forms, light colours, natural materials predominate.
