Hiroshi Nakamura’s Hiroshima Masterpiece: 6,000 Glass Blocks Soften Light, Silence Noise, and Reveal a Serene Courtyard

Serenity in Hiroshima: A 3-storey masterpiece by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP. 6,000 optical glass blocks filter light, reduce noise, and unveil a hidden courtyard oasis.

▏A Serene Oasis in Hiroshima

1) Nestled among towering apartment buildings in downtown Hiroshima, Japan, this seemingly modest three-storey family house by Tokyo-based architectural practice Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP is a remarkable achievement: it offers its occupants a serene, secluded oasis amid the city’s hustle and bustle, despite being situated on a busy thoroughfare. To make this happen, the architects designed an “optical glass façade”, behind which they created a lush verdant courtyard, complete with trees, shrubbery, and a reflecting pool. Made from 6,000 pure-glass blocks, the optical wall is as much a captivating design statement as it is an engineering feat, filtering natural light in, keeping sounds out, and transforming the passing cars and trams into a hypnotic play of shadows. Visible from all main spaces, the glass-encased courtyard allows the occupants to peacefully enjoy the changing light as the day progresses, without ever being disturbed by the chaos outside.

▏Dazzling Light & Hidden Reinforcements!

2) Suspended three metres above street level, the 8.6 by 8.6 metre glass-block façade is undoubtedly the project’s centrepiece—shimmering like a translucent veil, it gently refracts light, shifting perspectives as you approach it. A stunning blend of design and engineering, it is made from borosilicate glass blocks, crafted through a meticulous casting process to ensure the highest possible transparency. Despite challenges like slow cooling and surface imperfections, these subtle irregularities were embraced to create mesmerizing optical effects. To ensure stability, the glass blocks were pierced and strung on stainless steel bolts, reinforced with flat bars for lateral support. Ingeniously concealed within the blocks, the bars maintain a sleek, uninterrupted look, while 6mm joints seals the structure, balancing aesthetics and function.

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Architecture, design, glass, Hiroshima, Masterpiece, Oasis

彭博學生中心專為學生生活而建的設施

03/11/2025

作為約翰霍普金斯大學 150 週年校慶啟動儀式的一部分，這是該校首個專為學生生活而建的設施，體現了一代又一代學生的渴望：他們一直渴望擁有一個可以交流、社交、參與學生社團、表演藝術等各種活動的場所。彭博學生中心以霍普金斯大學校友邁克爾 ‧ R ‧ 彭博的名字命名。作為約翰霍普金斯大學150週年校慶啟動儀式的一部分，新的布隆伯格學生中心正式落成，這是該校首個專為學生生活而建的設施。這座位於歷史悠久的霍姆伍德校區的地標建築，體現了一代又一代學生的渴望：他們一直渴望擁有一個可以交流、社交、參與學生社團、表演藝術等各種活動的場所。這座佔地15萬平方英尺的新建築由BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group和室內建築Rockwell Group與執行建築師Shepley Bulfinch合作設計，景觀設計由Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA)負責。該建築旨在滿足霍普金斯大學本科生和研究生不斷變化的需求，其特色包括：一個以當地攤位為特色的先進美食廣場、一間酒吧和咖啡館、一個可容納250人的靈活表演場地、一個設有開放式座位的中央中庭、舞蹈工作室、俱樂部會議室、錄音室、靈活的聚會場所、一個數位媒體中心，甚至還有一個電子競技休息室。彭博學生中心以霍普金斯大學校友邁克爾·R·彭博的名字命名。麥可·R·彭博是工程學1964屆畢業生，也是彭博有限合夥企業和彭博慈善基金會的創始人，曾任紐約市第108任市長。彭博學生中心旨在表彰他對支持約翰霍普金斯大學學生的傑出貢獻。