Hiroshima’s centre straddles the delta of the ?ta River, and this three-storey townhouse is located near one of its many regulated distributaries. The busy street the residence inhabits is host to buildings of widely diverging heights. It intersects nearby with Heiwa ?d?ri, or Peace Boulevard, which leads directly to Kenz? Tange’s Peace Center and Memorial Park. The ground floor consists of a two-car garage and a one-bedroom apartment; the latter receives its daylight from a small rear courtyard. By employing a wall of solid glass blocks, the architects made the upper two storeys a sunny oasis of calm sheltered from the noise of the street, yet dreamily aware of its animated hustle and bustle. The play of light and shadow that characterises this building was brought about through the use of translucent materials; this begins with the skylight glazing directly above the entrance area. This glazing doubles as the transparent bottom of a reflecting pool directly above, and rippling light reflections are cast on the floor and walls. The sliding doors flanking the living room on the first storey allow the space to be opened up completely to the garden courtyard. A light metal-mesh curtain provides spatial definition – transparent and sensual – as desired and contributes to an intimate living atmosphere. The 6000 blocks of cast borosilicate glass were threaded from below on seventy-five stainless-steel rods that are steadied by a steel beam.