Transparent F3 House by Koh Kitayama Looks Like a Daylight-Filled Industrial Greenhouse

<p><i>Photo <a href="http://japlusu.com">© Shinkenchiku-sha Co., Ltd</a></i></p> <p>Seen on <a href="http://japlusu.com">JA+U (Japan Architecture+Urbanism)</a>, the F3 House in Tokyo was designed for an owner who had only two requests: a spacious garage for his cars, and an area where he could indulge in his passion for cooking. Architect <a href="http://www.archws.com/english/profile/biography/index.html" target="_blank">Koh Kitayama</a> packed all the necessary functions into the smallest possible area, leaving the rest of the house to provide space for the owner’s favorite pastimes. Located in a hilly suburb of Tokyo, the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/daylighting/">daylight</a>-filled house is liberated from the conventions of contemporary <a href="http://inhabitat.com/as-self-sufficient-residential-units-respond-sustainably-to-housing-shortages/" target="_blank">residential housing</a>.</p>

<em>Photo <a href="http://japlusu.com">© Shinkenchiku-sha Co., Ltd</a></em> The F3 House resembles a three-story <a href="http://inhabitat.com/ikeas-new-mini-greenhouse-lets-anyone-create-their-own-indoor-garden/" target="_blank">industrial greenhouse</a>.

<em>Photo <a href="http://japlusu.com">© Shinkenchiku-sha Co., Ltd</a></em> The top floor is a large deck with garden furniture and parasol.

<em>Photo <a href="http://japlusu.com">© Shinkenchiku-sha Co., Ltd</a></em> The mezzanine above the garage is a grille that serves as the relaxation area.

<em>Photo <a href="http://japlusu.com">© Shinkenchiku-sha Co., Ltd</a></em> The container comprises a kitchen and a bathroom. The wall that separates it from the rest of the interior can be sealed with special insulated shoji - sliding paper screens.

<em>Photo <a href="http://japlusu.com">© Shinkenchiku-sha Co., Ltd</a></em> The top storey houses another outer room, with the ridge of the glass roof hinging upward to ventilate warm air.

<em>Photo <a href="http://japlusu.com">© Shinkenchiku-sha Co., Ltd</a></em> Except for a long container-like element inserted into the main structure of the building, its entire envelope is completely transparent.

<em>Photo <a href="http://japlusu.com">© Shinkenchiku-sha Co., Ltd</a></em> Located on a street corner, all lit up from the inside at night, the house reveals almost all aspects of the owner’s life.

<em>Photo <a href="http://japlusu.com">© Shinkenchiku-sha Co., Ltd</a></em> The owner says:"People don’t look inside on purpose. It’s so open that passers-by are too embarrassed to peer in".