High density urban development in inner city Yokohama leaves apartment blocks and low-rise housing competing for space, but ultimately and most importantly, light. Located within a dense network of high-rise blocks and offices, the site for this project required an ingenious design by Takeshi Hosaka to maximise the limited natural light. The solution: raise the building 5m above the ground level and design an acrylic dome ceiling with all the windows of the building on the roof. Daylight House therefore consists of a volume containing a large high-ceilinged living room bordered by more private spaces, with each room having access to natural light from a grid of skylights that span the ceiling. Although it may be odd to live in a house that relies on the sky for its urban context, the unusual situation of the site makes this a noteworthy solution to an ever increasing city problem.
