HOUSE IN YAMANAKAKO

This project is a vacation home and retreat facility located in a villa district near Lake Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. The client, a producer responsible for a wide range of fashion shows and events, envisioned a place where guests and staff could step away from the extraordinary worlds of their work and gather in nature to rest and recharge. The site sits at the foot of Mount Fuji on a forested slope, with a gentle change in elevation from east to west. How to respond to this topography became one of the project’s primary challenges.

After exploring numerous massing studies, the design arrived at a solution that embraced rather than flattened the natural slope. The building takes the form of a large L-shaped single-story structure, while the lower western portion incorporates a two-level volume with a semi-basement. On the higher eastern side, portions of the floor level are raised to follow the existing terrain. Guest rooms are located on the eastern side, close to the entrance and parking area, while more private spaces—including the primary bedroom and sauna—are positioned on the western side. These areas are connected through a central living and dining space, allowing occupants to maintain a comfortable degree of separation while gathering naturally in the heart of the house. Outside, deep eaves extend toward the courtyard, reinforcing the continuity between the living areas and the landscape. This intermediary zone beneath the eaves provides a flexible setting for a variety of outdoor activities.

At the client’s request, the exterior is finished in black, a color that blends naturally with the surrounding forest. The walls and soffits are clad entirely in charred cedar with a brushed texture, giving depth and richness to the dark surface. The roof, featuring a profile that departs from a conventional gabled form through the treatment of the gable ends and fascia, is wrapped in specially bent steel panels that reduce visual clutter and lend the building a unified appearance. Beyond functional requirements, careful attention was given to details such as lighting, spatial proportions, and atmosphere. Through close collaboration with the client—whose professional practice involves the production of immersive environments—the project sought to create a minimalist yet deeply relaxing retreat.