takahiro endo architects office crafts a double gable roof for forest villa in japan

Places in Karuizawa Redefines Communal Living in Nature

Places in Karuizawa by Takahiro Endo Architects Office is a project centered on the reconstruction of a villa for 14 people across four families. The site, nestled in a vast forest of chestnut, fir, and dogwood trees in Japan, offers a secluded setting where neighboring houses are concealed. The design, influenced by the owner’s long-standing experiences in the area, aims to capture the essence of spending time in the woods and the communal aspects resembling a ‘training camp’. The floor area mirrors the existing building at approximately 200 sqm, elongated north to south to maximize interaction with the east-sloping forest. The structure embraces the natural slope, creating a one-story building with multiple steps that follow the topography. The design incorporates post pillars and sliding aluminum sashes along the long side, allowing seamless connection with the forest from any point. The horizontal force on the expansive, lightweight roof is balanced by a smaller, robust roof within the structure.

concrete Steps follow the natural slope of the forest

The strategic placement of verandas near the family bedrooms encourages diverse activities, transforming areas like the living room, entrance, terrace, and laundry drying space. Steps provide a sense of belonging and an opportunity to engage with the sloping terrain. The concrete foundation subtly exposed over the steps emphasizes the building’s connection to the topography. Neither a residence, villa, nor training camp, the structure embodies the owner’s family’s commitment to shared time with the forest. It transcends a mere leisure space, representing a unique form that signifies the profound relationship between the owner’s family and the forest. With this proposal, Takahiro Endo Architects Office envisions a lasting ‘place to be’, where the activities of the location can be passed down to future generations, accumulating further experiences.

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project info:

name: Places in Karuizawa
architect: Takahiro Endo / Takahiro Endo ARCHITECTS OFFICE | @endotakahiroarchitectsoffice

location: Karuizawa, Japan

photography: Yasuhiro Nakayama

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