NKS Architects’ latest residential project stands out for its futuristic design and the exploitation of interior and exterior space to the maximum

16 May

Situated in a typical suburban area in Fukuoka city, Japan, the Sky Vessel House by NKS Architects is designed according to the needs of their clients who seek a spacious interior capable of accommodating a large number of guests, as the clients often entertained visitors related to their work or hobbies.

The goal was to design a building that could improve the surrounding environment and landscape while maintaining privacy within the house.

The site is surrounded by houses and apartments, and the front road has a significant amount of traffic.

An open and spacious garden was also desired to accommodate parties and other events.

A large, vessel-shaped tile roof was placed on top of the distorted circular floor plan perimeter wall.

The roof blocks the view from the surroundings while bringing the sky into the interior.

The perimeter wall has a green garden on its outer edge since the site is large enough to accommodate it.

The openings in the perimeter wall are minimal, consisting of high sidelights and ventilation windows, while the interior plaster walls gently curve to serve as a backdrop for paintings and other decorations.

On the courtyard side, there are various large openings of different shapes that allow sufficient wind, light, and greenery to enter the interior.

Although the building appears enclosed from the outside, the interior space is bright and open.

The laminated timber beams that support the roof are arranged radially from a central point in the same shape.

To ensure that each space has the necessary width and height, the distance from the center to the outer perimeter wall is gradually adjusted.

The perimeter wall is symmetrical in both horizontal and vertical directions and is composed of two different radii.

The design aimed for an open building that could enjoy a rich natural environment even within a residential area and serve not only as a private place but also as a gallery or party venue.

The curved tile roof frames the sky, collects rainwater, and reflects the sun’s light softly.

Sitting on the bench in the courtyard and looking up, we can feel as if we have become a part of nature, integrated with the sky.

Project Info:

Project: Sky Vessel House
Architects: NKS Architects
Lead Architects: Noriko Suehiro, Kaoru Suehiro, and Hiroyuki Sato
Structural Engineering: Torisha
Client: Private