Get the best of Domus straight to your inbox!

Fusionner

Kotaro Horiuchi Architecture developed the series Fusionner, three projects that emphasise on the activities that take place in their interior space, three architectures that are able to evolve and to change.

In Barcelona, a new tower made of colored glass

A project by GCA Architects uses AGC’s Planibel Coloured glass to to realize the Torre Colonial, a 21-story building that now becomes part of the city’s skyline.

Sponsored content

Fusionner comes from a French word meaning “to merge”.

The architecture merge in the urban city just like renovations merge into inside space. The most important thing is the interior of those places, where a group of people will be actors of the activities that will take place in that space. To emphasise on those activities, the existence of an architectural place that evolves smoothly, is necessary.

In “Holes of droplets floating ” (Fusionner 1.0) two huge floating membranes divide the space into three vertically. The holes on the membranes are meant to obscures the borders of them. The light passes through the swaying membranes, projects the shade of light to another membrane, and gives a change. Putting up membranes with an angle enable to create holes of different heights. They can move from hole to hole to encounter new people or object, gather in one hole or stand in another one for a while. It is a space, which brings people to communicate.

Kotaro Horiuchi Architecture, Holes of droplets floating . Photo © Mitsuru Narihara

“Paper cave” (Fusionner 2.0) is a three-dimensional curved surface cave made by papers hanged side-by-side. The holes on the facade let the comforting light comes inside. A table made of artificial marble, drawn by height variations form a free curved surface and seems to float. Thanks to the holes depth, the architects adjusted the light transmittance to five levels. Table stand also create a unique place by creating smooth curved surface. It’s a place were people gather, discuss, it could be used as an office, a saloon, a meeting place, a lounge or a bar. The use of the place will depend on the people who will use it as far as it doesn’t have a specific function.

In “The air house” (Fusionner 3.0)  thin and pure white layers of papers are floating fluidly in the air. At the front, there is a small entrance shaped like a gable roof. When you go inside by making your body smaller, you can slowly notice a silhouette of a house, which seems to change its size continuously. A space like a hideout spreads. As you come closer to the back, the silhouette of gable roof gets smaller and smaller to finally end as a small window. You can experience the air spreading in it and discover models hidden between the papers. You can gather, discuss, enjoy the moment and even lie down. You will feel by chance what is happening outside of the Air House by communicating through the windows and cracks of the house.

01 / 14

Kotaro Horiuchi Architecture, Holes of droplets floating . Photo © Mitsuru Narihara

Kotaro Horiuchi Architecture, Holes of droplets floating . Photo © Mitsuru Narihara

Kotaro Horiuchi Architecture, Holes of droplets floating . Photo © Mitsuru Narihara

Kotaro Horiuchi Architecture, Holes of droplets floating . Photo © Issei Mori

Kotaro Horiuchi Architecture, Holes of droplets floating . Photo © Issei Mori

Kotaro Horiuchi Architecture, Holes of droplets floating . Photo © Issei Mori

Left: Kotaro Horiuchi Architecture, Paper cave. Photo Photo © Mitsuru Narihara. Right: Kotaro Horiuchi Architecture, Paper cave. Photo Photo © Issei Mori

Fusionner, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
Architect: Kotaro Horiuchi Architecture

Hole of droplets floating
Program: installation
Construction: Actis INC. + Kotaro Horiuchi Architecture + Nagoya University 15 students
Area: 40 sqm
Completion: 19th March 2014

Paper cave
Program: Office / Salon / Gallery
Construction: Actis INC. + Kotaro Horiuchi Architecture + Nagoya University 15 students
Area: 100 sqm
Completion: 19th March 2014

The air house
Program: installation
Construction: Kotaro Horiuchi Architecture + 25 students from Aichi Shukutoku University + 5 students from Meijyo University
Area: 50 sqm
Completion: 7th May 2014

Lupak, the new dance between light and shadow

Lupak Metal takes center stage in the Faentine "casa palafitta" redevelopment with its innovative sunscreens.

Sponsored content

Get the best of Domus straight to your inbox!

Fusionner

Kotaro Horiuchi Architecture developed the series Fusionner, three projects that emphasise on the activities that take place in their interior space, three architectures that are able to evolve and to change.

In Barcelona, a new tower made of colored glass

Lupak, the new dance between light and shadow

Latest on Architecture

Latest on Domus