A secluded retreat blending architecture with nature in a charred cedar home
Perched on the Yatsugatake mountain plateau in central Japan, a unique holiday home designed by Keiji Ashizawa Design harmoniously merges with the lush landscape. This residence, with its 225-square-metre structure, enveloped in traditional charred cedar, offers both seclusion and a vista of natural beauty.
Design adapted for privacy and views
Despite its location in a residential area of holiday homes, the property maintains privacy through its strategic positioning. “We carefully shaped the house to open up to nature while avoiding direct views of neighboring properties,” explains founder Keiji Ashizawa. Windows are thoughtfully placed to frame the landscape while ensuring privacy.
Architectural response to nature and climate
The form of the one-storey building bends gently, enclosing the garden with its angles. This design responds to surrounding views and natural light, creating a dwelling that sits organically within its environment.
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Clad in yakisugi, a charred cedar, the house evokes traditional Japanese aesthetics. Located outside of densely populated regions, where fire regulations are strict, timber cladding was a permitted choice. “This allows yakisugi to become a key element of the home’s exterior expression,” says Ashizawa.
Built for the elements
The foundation, partly exposed due to the site’s slope, adapts to the snowy winters of Yatsugatake. The house features a high profile typical of timber homes in colder climates. Inside, the central entrance divides communal spaces in the western wing from private quarters to the east.
A seamless indoor-outdoor connection
The interior is crafted using oak wood, featuring sloping beams and high windows that frame the garden. A skylight above the mezzanine loft channels light into the living space, while panoramic timber-framed windows in the bathroom offer stunning forest views.
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“By responding to the site’s topography, light, and wind, we aimed to create a dwelling where the surrounding landscape gradually reveals itself,” says the studio. Keiji Ashizawa Design continues to impress with projects that include an eight-room Tokyo hotel and a machiya holiday home.
The photography is by Tomooki Kengaku.
Project credits:
- Architect: Keiji Ashizawa Design
- Project Architect: Keiji Ashizawa, Kenji Kawami
- Structural Engineer: AS Associates, Akira Suzuki
- Construction: Tanaka Jyuuken Co Ltd
- Furniture, Lighting: Karimoku Case, Kokuyo, Santa & Cole
Source: dezeen.com
Frequently asked questions
How does the house maintain privacy?
The property maintains privacy through its strategic positioning and carefully shaped design that opens up to nature while avoiding direct views of neighboring properties. Windows are thoughtfully placed to frame the landscape while ensuring privacy.
What materials are used for the house’s exterior?
The house’s exterior is clad in yakisugi, a charred cedar, which evokes traditional Japanese aesthetics and is permitted in this location due to less strict fire regulations.
How does the house respond to the site and climate?
The foundation is partly exposed due to the site’s slope, adapting to the snowy winters of Yatsugatake. The design also features angles and positioning that respond to surrounding views and natural light.