OHArchitecture embeds stepped camma villa and office onto sloping site in otsu, japan

the name 'camma,' a play on 'comma,' symbolizes the space's purpose to create a pause in daily life.

Misuzu edited by christina vergopoulou April 18, 2024 4 min

CAMMA by OHArchitecture serves as both a villa and an office

Situated in the Satoyama area of Sekitsu, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan, CAMMA serves as both a villa and an office, harmonizing with its lush natural surroundings. Despite the challenging terrain—a mostly sloped site covered in thickets of trees—OHArchitecture‘s vision was to create a gathering space that connects people with the charm of the location.

Initially abandoned after development efforts, the site revealed its hidden beauty through glimpses of Satoyama scenery and the sounds of wildlife. Inspired by this natural allure, the aim was to establish CAMMA as a third place—a shared activity base fostering interaction and discovery.

To integrate seamlessly with the landscape, the design minimizes the construction’s impact on the sloping ground. A horizontal roof extends from the road, leading visitors into a series of spaces arranged in a stepped manner along the slope. Each room offers a unique perspective, with some close enough to touch the surrounding trees, fostering a deep connection with nature.

OHArchitecture embeds stepped camma villa and office onto sloping site in otsu, japan - 1 — all images courtesy of OHArchitecture

CAMMA’s elevated structure allows for living amidst the trees

CAMMA’s second-floor terrace, featuring a sauna, provides an elevated experience akin to being amidst the trees. The shared offices, cafés, and saunas in the area further encourage diverse groups to converge, promoting interaction and collaboration.

The name ‘CAMMA,’ a play on ‘COMMA,’ symbolizes a pause—a moment of connection and interaction. This punctuation-inspired title reflects the space’s purpose: to create a pause in daily life, fostering creativity and community engagement.

By repurposing an unused sloping land, the design team at OHArchitecture aims for CAMMA to evolve into a vibrant hub where people gather, intersect, and enrich each other’s lives amidst the tranquility of nature.

OHArchitecture embeds stepped camma villa and office onto sloping site in otsu, japan - 2 — situated in the lush Satoyama area of Sekitsu, Otsu City, CAMMA blends with its natural surroundings

OHArchitecture embeds stepped camma villa and office onto sloping site in otsu, japan - 3 — despite the challenging terrain, OHArchitecture creates a space that connects people with the location

OHArchitecture embeds stepped camma villa and office onto sloping site in otsu, japan - 4 — abandoned after initial development, CAMMA reveals hidden beauty through glimpses of Satoyama scenery

OHArchitecture embeds stepped camma villa and office onto sloping site in otsu, japan - 5 — upon entering, the path leads to the terrace adorned in crushed tiles

OHArchitecture embeds stepped camma villa and office onto sloping site in otsu, japan - 6 — CAMMA aims to be a shared activity base fostering interaction and discovery

OHArchitecture embeds stepped camma villa and office onto sloping site in otsu, japan - 7 — the main terrace overlooks the green scenery of Satoyama

camma-villa-office-oharchitecture-japan-designboom-1800-3 — a horizontal roof extends from the road, guiding visitors into spaces arranged in a stepped manner along the slope

OHArchitecture embeds stepped camma villa and office onto sloping site in otsu, japan - 8 — for the ceiling, each 120mm column stands between two beams to reduce the burden on the beams

OHArchitecture embeds stepped camma villa and office onto sloping site in otsu, japan - 9 — each room offers a unique perspective of the surrounding trees, fostering a deep connection with nature

OHArchitecture embeds stepped camma villa and office onto sloping site in otsu, japan - 10 — CAMMA seeks to be a place where people gather and enrich each other’s lives amidst nature’s tranquility

OHArchitecture embeds stepped camma villa and office onto sloping site in otsu, japan - 11 — the volumes are arranged in a stair-like manner to follow the terrain

camma-villa-office-oharchitecture-japan-designboom-1800-2 — CAMMA’s design minimizes construction impact on the sloping ground, blending with the landscape

project info:

name: CAMMA
architect: OHArchitecture

location: Satoyama, Sekitsu, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan

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