Steven

Holls

VOID SPACE / HINGE SPACE HOUSING

Nexus World Housing Fukuoka Japan

Who is Steven Holl?

Considered on of Americas most important architects, Steven Holl is
recognized for his ability to blend space and light with great contextual
sensitivity and to utilize the unique qualities of each project to create a
concept-driven design.
He specializes in seamlessly integrating new projects into context with
particular culture and historic importance.

Nexus World Housing is one of the most interesting housing experiments in recent time. This
complex was designed by several renowned western architects, led by the famous Japanese master
ISOSAKI ARATA, including Steven Holl, Scar Tusquets, Mark Mack, Christian de
Portzamparc, Osamu Ishiyama and especially Rem Koolhass, who was catapulted to
international fame after their participation in this project.

Location : Fukuoka, Japan

: 4,243sqm

: 27~56

: Mixed use complex, with 28 residential apartments, 7 shop

(5 )
, light weight aluminum facade
-

The problem of proposing urban space for a metropolitan sector whose program elements,
architectural parts, and social aspects are as yet unknown (and may always be in some state
of flux) leads us to propose beginning from a perspectival experience of bounded space.
Instead of prior plans projected later into perspective drawing. Perspective views are made
and cast backwards into plan fragment. Steven Holl wrote.

Feature ( )
(From hinged space to the silence of void space) four active
north facing voids interlock with four quiet south facing voids to bring
a sense of the sacred into direct contact with everyday domestic life.

28 4 ,

Void Space
- . (Provide space both practical and
visual)

+ (Visual) : .

(Mitigate between unit interiors and street spaces.)

+ (Practical) : make it possible for each unit to have
openings in several directions
- (The public zone units will converge
on the extension of the sharing)
- (Each unit in various
directions are possible to be an opening)

 ( )
( )
. . 15 5 , 2
3 , 2 , 3 14
. 15
. ~~~~ VOID SPACE .

Light & Water

To ensure emptiness, the south voids are
flooded with water; the sun make
flickering reflections across the
ceilings of the north courts and
apartment interiors.
The flooded voids are in fact still ponds,
which are a phenomenal lens, capturing
the light of the sky and the changes
in brightness over the day. Looking
down into the ponds, one can see the
clouds or occasional aircraft passing
overhead.

Use the water element

Connect to the sky

An experiential sense of passage through space is heightened in the
three types of access, which allow apartments to have exterior front
doors. On the lower passage, views across the water court and through
the north voids activate the walk spatially from side to side. Along the
north passage one has a sense of suspension with the park in the
distance. The top passage has a sky view under direct sunlight. Through
the section, the apartments interlock in section like a complex Chinese
box. Individuation from the standpoint of the individual inhabitant has an
aim in making all 28 apartments different.

Movement inside building

Connect to the sky

 ( )

Concept of hinged space gives modern application to versatility
of the traditional Japanese Fusuma sliding panel. Light,
colorful, wooden walls turn on pivotal hinges, making it possible
to combine or isolate spaces according to hour, season and
family makeup.
By using pivoting doors, panels, and cabinets, the plan of each
unit can be reconfigured to accommodate diurnal and
episodic changes
DIURNAL Hinging: Allows an expansion of the living area
during the day, reclaimed for bedrooms at night.
BPISODIC Hinging: Allows rooms to be subtracted or added to
accommodate changing needs of the family overtime: rooms
can be added or subtracted to accommodate grown up children
leaving the family or elderly parents moving in.

- :

Unit Types ( )
D

DI

DI

DI

DI

DL

DL

Plan ( )

3rd Floor 4th Floor

5th Floor

Image

After Analyst ( )

Habitat 67, Montreal by Moshe

Safdie

THANK YOU !