Renovation of a resort apartment in a villa area in Chino City, Nagano Prefecture.

It will be a weekend residence for the client, who has a residence in the city center, to spend a relaxing time. The client wanted to cherish the quiet time in the forest, detached from the hectic daily life.

On the way home from Tokyo, we drove to the site for the first time. The flux of light that poured down on us deeply etched the surrounding mountain range in layers, creating a fantastic view. The beauty of this scene inspired me to create such a landscape in a room in the forest, and this was the beginning of the design process.

The materials and colors used in the interior were selected with the aim of creating a peaceful atmosphere during the time spent in the quiet forest, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. For the largest surface in the room, we used oak veneer panels to create a wall with random irregularities, like the surrounding mountain range. This wall surface creates different views depending on the time of day and the season by receiving light peculiar to the apartment building that comes in from one direction.

The result is a home where one can feel the transition of light and the flow of time while gaining the secluded coziness of a deep forest, and at the same time, relaxing and calm.

Team:
Design: Buttondesing 
Construction: Tree to Green
Photography: Masao Nishikawa