Hansha Reflection House: A Masterpiece of Structural Ingenuity and Material Sublimity

Studio Sklim's Award-Winning Design Transforms a Tight Plot into an Architectural Marvel

The Hansha Reflection House is not just a home; it's a reflection of its surroundings. The design, inspired by the concept of reflection, incorporates elements that mirror the exterior environment, creating a seamless blend of indoor and outdoor spaces. The asymmetrical window ledge, for instance, frames the picturesque view of the lake and park, bringing the beauty of the exterior Sakura into the dining space.

What sets the Hansha Reflection House apart is its unique structural design. The house features an extensive 3.2m glue-laminated timber cantilever, a breakthrough in Japanese residential construction, inspired by bridge construction and the domestic bookshelf. This cantilever carries the living and dining areas, providing space for parking three cars underneath. The house's structure is seismically tested to withstand earthquakes, adhering to Japan's stringent standards for residential houses.

The house's realization technology is equally impressive. Studio Sklim used timber from a renewable source and combined traditional mortise and tenon joint systems with steel bracketing. The outer facade was clad using Galvalume, a zinc and aluminum composite, while the reflective facade used stainless steel panels sourced from a bathtub manufacturer. The result is a house that pushes the envelope for timber residential construction in Japan.

The Hansha Reflection House is not just a marvel of design and engineering; it's also a functional space designed with the residents in mind. The house is home to a couple, their son, and their pets. The public zone of the house occupies the front portion with an elevated living and dining area, while the more private bedrooms are separated by a courtyard. The master bedroom is conveniently located on the ground floor, while the son's room is on the upper floor, close to the living/dining/kitchen areas for easy communication.

The Hansha Reflection House is a shining example of Studio Sklim's innovative approach to design. It's a testament to the studio's ability to transform challenges into opportunities, creating a home that is not just beautiful and unique, but also functional and sustainable. The house is a reflection of its surroundings, its residents, and the ingenuity of its creators.