Architecture

The Optical Glass House: A Tranquil Sanctuary Amid Urban Bustle

This impressive house was designed as a peaceful retreat from the constant buzz of Hiroshima, while still maintaining a connection to the surrounding urban landscape.

Por: Rubén Carrillo
Visible from every room, the garden and its serene views of passing vehicles provide a soundless, soothing backdrop that enriches everyday life within the house / Photo OGH
Visible from every room, the garden and its serene views of passing vehicles provide a soundless, soothing backdrop that enriches everyday life within the house / Photo OGH

Situated amidst the towering buildings of downtown Hiroshima, the Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP was envisioned as a retreat from the city’s constant buzz. 

 

Overlooking a street bustling with cars and trams, the design’s primary goal was to create a peaceful refuge without severing the connection to the surrounding urban landscape. 

 

To achieve this delicate balance, a lush garden and an extraordinary optical glass façade were introduced on the street-facing side of the residence. 

 

Visible from every room, the garden and its serene views of passing vehicles provide a soundless, soothing backdrop that enriches everyday life within the house.

the Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP was envisioned as a retreat from the city's constant buzz / Photo Optical Glass House
the Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP was envisioned as a retreat from the city's constant buzz / Photo Optical Glass House

The Magical Play of Light and Seasons

Morning sunlight from the east filters through the optical glass façade, casting intricate patterns of refracted light throughout the interior. 

 

Rain falling onto the water-basin skylight produces mesmerizing ripple effects on the entrance floor, while the filtered sunlight through garden trees animates the living room with flickering shadows. 

 

Adding to this sensory experience, a lightweight metallic curtain, made from sputter-coated materials, sways gracefully in the breeze. 

 

Although the Optical Glass House is firmly rooted in the city’s heart, its thoughtful design allows the inhabitants to experience the passing of time and the changing seasons with remarkable intimacy.

Adding to this sensory experience, a lightweight metallic curtain, made from sputter-coated materials, sways gracefully in the breeze. / Photo OGH
Adding to this sensory experience, a lightweight metallic curtain, made from sputter-coated materials, sways gracefully in the breeze. / Photo OGH

An Architectural Feat of Optical Glass Innovation

The facade of the Optical Glass House is a masterpiece in itself, composed of approximately 6,000 pure-glass blocks, each meticulously crafted to dimensions of 50mm x 235mm x 50mm. 

 

These blocks, possessing a significant mass per unit area, serve to insulate the home from the city’s noise while preserving a visual openness to the outside.

 

To achieve the exceptional clarity necessary for this vision, the glass was cast from borosilicate. 

 

This demanding casting process required slow, careful cooling to eliminate internal stresses and ensure precise dimensions, pushing the boundaries of glass-making craftsmanship.

Engineering a Transparent Fortress

Given the monumental size of the 8.6m by 8.6m façade, conventional stacking of the glass blocks was structurally unfeasible. 

 

Instead, an ingenious solution was devised: each glass block was pierced and strung onto 75 stainless steel bolts suspended from an overhead beam. 

 

To counter lateral forces, thin stainless steel flat bars were threaded alongside the glass blocks at ten-centimeter intervals. 

 

These bars are cleverly embedded within the 50 mm-thick blocks, hidden from view, maintaining the façade’s flawless appearance.

 

 A consistent 6mm gap between the blocks enhances the seamlessness of the structure, allowing it to resemble a cascading waterfall, diffusing light and imbuing the atmosphere with a sense of airy freshness.

 

The Optical Glass House stands as a testament to architectural daring and innovation, turning a plot in a noisy city center into a luminous, peaceful retreat where the rhythms of nature and city life harmoniously coexist.

To counter lateral forces, thin stainless steel flat bars were threaded alongside the glass blocks at ten-centimeter intervals. / Photo OGH
To counter lateral forces, thin stainless steel flat bars were threaded alongside the glass blocks at ten-centimeter intervals. / Photo OGH

Questions & Answers

  • 1. Where is the Optical Glass House located? It is located in downtown Hiroshima, surrounded by tall buildings and busy streets.
  • 2. What material was used for the house’s unique façade? The façade was constructed from pure borosilicate glass blocks.
  • 3. How does the design of the Optical Glass House promote tranquility? Through the use of a garden, sound-insulating glass, and a carefully engineered façade that filters city life into a silent, visual experience.
  • 4. What structural solution was used to support the large glass façade? Glass blocks were strung on stainless steel bolts and supported with hidden flat bars for stability.

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