FujiwaraMuro: House in Goido

The house by FujiwaraMuro recalls a city in miniature: its four discrete building volumes surround a central plaza space, lit from above by the sun.

In Goido, Japan, a white house emerges discreetly amidst the existing fabric of a dense residential street. Designed by Japanese practice FujiwaraMuro Architects, the house draws upon the visual and spatial character of urban life, with its numerous exchanges and overlaps between private, public, and semi-public zones. The design of the residence recognises that true comfort requires not simply privacy but also carefully framed areas for spontaneous interaction.

Throughout their work, FujiwaraMuro have continually addressed the idea of a house made of multiple volumes, relating to the formal complexity of cities. In a house in Sayo they distributed a series of rooms along a long, curving hallway. In Goido, meanwhile, they go even further: according to architect Shintaro Fujiwara, “We built four separate buildings, creating a residence where the city continues to manifest itself within the interior of each structure.”

These four discrete buildings are arranged around a central “plaza”, framing a view of the sky that evokes the narrow streets and tiny squares of historic cities. When crossing from one room to another via bridge-like passageways, the inhabitant experiences a gradient of sunlight, wind, and enclosure, as if crossing a little alley between buildings. The urban character of the plaza is also emphasised through smaller details: palm trees rise up from recessed planting beds, rather than more domestic pots.

 

FujiwaraMuro, House in Goido
FujiwaraMuro Architects, House in Goido, Nara, Japan 2012

Each room of the house takes up an entire floor in each building, including bedrooms, kitchen and dining area, workspace, laundry, a traditional Japanese room, and a roof terrace. These rooms receive light and ventilation from the central plaza.


FujiwaraMuro, House in Goido
FujiwaraMuro Architects, House in Goido, Nara, Japan 2012

FujiwaraMuro Architects: House in Goido

Architects: Fujiwarramuro Architects (Shintaro Fujiwara, Yoshio Muro)
Site: Goido, Nara, Japan
Programme: single-family house
Site Area: 82,22 sqm
Built Area: 46,32 sqm
Total floor area: 78,74 sqm
Structure: timber
Completion: 2012

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