wooden interior completes the renovation of a villa in japan

note architects’ ‘House in Kusatsu’ overlooks the rich forest

Tokyo-based architectural firm Note Architects renovates a villa located in Kusatsu, one of Japan’s leading hot spring resorts. The single-family house stands on the boundary between the forest and the residential area, facing directly to the greenery and benefitting from panoramic unhindered views. To optimize the relationship between the villa and the forest, the design team forms large glass windows and atriums and places benches and windowsills along the openings to give a natural backdrop to the users’ activities. The interior arrangement sets up wooden materiality throughout and exposes the supporting beams and columns of the construction, as well as the ceiling finished with plywood. Adjusting to the natural landscape and weather elements affecting the region, the structure shields under a large gable roof, commonly designed for snow protection.

the residence assembles an open layout | all images by Akira Nakamura

an intimate open interior benefits from panoramic views

The design team conducts a renovation plan that maximizes the characteristics of the existing environment through a large gable roof hiding between the trees in the forest. A generous interior space, covered by the gable roof, spreads out in an open layout assembling most areas along the glass openings. On the side of the villa that faces directly to the forest, the design shapes an atrium through the longitudinal direction connecting the living room and the loft. All proportions of the windows are set horizontally to capture the panoramic view of the grenery. Several sitting areas and custom made wooden benches are assembled next to the large glass windows, while a reading desk is set up at the end of the stairs going up along the roof forming an intimate zone.

a horizontal window frames the forest landscape