Aichi (Aichi Prefecture)
Case Studies
Set up a sofa outside the house. This feeling of freedom is wonderful. On the other hand, you have to worry about what to do with the sofas, for example. You still want a roof over your head. However, if the light is blocked, the main attraction of being outside is halved. So, if you can adopt glass, you can actually solve almost everything. However, it is not enough to simply adopt glass. Accidents can happen anywhere, at any time, and while 100% protection is not possible anywhere in the world, it is essential to have enough strength resistance to be able to say that you are basically safe. So, while there is no risk of breakage of the metal framework, there is a risk of it falling if it is too heavy, and a risk of it breaking and falling if the glass is too poor. To achieve a presence that feels secure at first sight, while clearing both of these concerns, a great deal of knowledge is required.
In black metal with a strong presence
As you can see, the black-finished metal with a strong presence is designed to be both a window frame and a lattice design. It has been processed to be both strong and light, so that it does not feel heavy when you look up from below. As the outside space is not within a closed space, it tends to be insufficient for anything you place there, but the metal as a whole is firmly voluminous and its presence stands out. Naturally, it also serves as a roof, so we paid thorough attention to its strength. As for the finish, it is painted with a zinc anti-corrosion treatment. Normally, the exterior paint finish is applied after a rust-proof coating, but this is not sufficient in the long term and can lead to peeling and rusting over time. Zinc anti-corrosion treatment (thermal spraying) adds a sacrificial anti-corrosion function with zinc and creates fine irregularities on the surface, which allows the paint to bite firmly and significantly increases surface strength. High resistance is achieved even when placed in an outside environment.
Clear glass to let in natural light
It is still possible to enjoy plenty of outside light because it is installed outside. The use of glass enhances this effect. If there is a blue sky behind the glass, the black metal will stand out even more. The choice of glass was also very important for this project. Special glass is used to ensure both clarity and robustness. For example, it would hardly be damaged by a large hailstorm. If it should break, the structure will not cause serious injury to people below due to its fine shard structure. Rather, it will be one of the safest places to gather in this space. This project is a good example of a simple and functional use of the function of glass to “transmit”, and it fulfils its purpose beautifully. The seemingly simple structure of glass on latticework is a highlight of the ingenuity used to enhance its presence. This project has been a great success.
