Villa in the Forest

The house is located in Tateshina, Nagano in the western slope of Yatsugatake mountains at 1,200 meters above sea level as part of the resort area, two and half an hours away by car, in the northwest of Tokyo. Surrounded by a dense forest, the site boundary disappears, creating a sense of expansiveness. Sunlight is dispersed by tall tress hence eliminating a sense of direction and neutralizing the space. Commissioned by a couple in the art world, the house was designed for the couple’s and their friend’s holiday getaway as well as artist residency. The house was required to have an atelier, a living room with walls to hang artworks, two separate bedrooms, a bathroom with an outdoor view, and a direct vehicular access to the building.

These requirement and severe winter weather in the area determined to employ the reinforced concrete structure. In a plan, the house is organized in circular, reflecting directionlessness of the surrounding forest. In a section, the roof is designed to have an almost identical incline but in the reverse direction to the site, hence further obscuring a sense of direction. There are two distinct space: the central space in circular shape and the surrounding space in ring shape. The central space, the naturally lit and double-height atelier is covered entirely by the translucent polycarbonate roof. The surrounding space is continuous and partially double-height, housing the living room, the dining room, the kitchen, and the corridor. Two east-facing bedrooms are placed above the kitchen and the dining room with the extruding rectangular volume housing the bathroom.

Two contrasting space are separable when a large double door and two single-swing doors are closed, maintaining individual character and function of each room. Various forms of opening are created in both internal and external walls for spatial continuity, views and light. The circular and enclosed plan has no end yet unexpected and interrupting views to the surrounding forest through various openings create the freeing experience. On large white walls of the exterior and the atelier, the nature creates the play of light and shadow throughout the day.