This project began in a pristine forest spanning approximately three hectares, located just a short distance from the Niseko Ski Resort in Hokkaido, Japan. While the nearby ski towns have evolved into chaotic, sprawling suburbs filled with holiday crowds, this project offers a stark contrast — a place of quiet and solitude.
Solitude and Purity
The owners, a large family, are drawn to the natural beauty of the area but are troubled by the relentless spread of suburban development. They sought refuge and tranquility in this secluded forest. Thus, the design’s goal was not merely to build a typical house but to create a timeless living experience that harmonizes with the forest environment.
The Trees
The site is nearly a perfect square measuring 160 meters on each side, dotted with tall pine trees. Approaching the location, a small hill blocks the view. This hill, lowered many years ago, serves as the only entrance. Above it runs a rural path along the north side of the property. Climbing over this hill, you enter the forest. A gentle upward slope extends south for about 100 meters, gradually steepening toward the southern edge of the site. Midway through the site, there is a vacant lot to the west.
Instinct
As we wander through the trees, our curiosity awakens. Exploring the surroundings, every subtle movement shifts our perception. The open space discovered here is unique — the only place where the trees can form an abstract backdrop through distance. Instead of placing the house at the center of this clearing, creating a 360-degree landscape, the residence nestles among the trees surrounding the open space, protected and integrated within the forest.
The Forest
The residence extends horizontally, allowing passage through the house to be akin to walking through the forest itself. With ever-changing perspectives from near to far, the forest exists both as a distant landscape and as an intimate connection with nature.
Each wing of the house ends with large openings, inviting the forest inside. The closer one moves to the edge of these wings, the stronger the connection with the forest becomes. Though the interior physically separates us from nature, windows facing the forest frame and enhance the experience — making it feel as if we are sitting within the woods.
Along the central spine of the residence, this focused framing gives way to a panoramic, immersive experience. Surrounded on all sides by the forest, the feeling of being immersed in a primeval woodland is constant.
Dialogue
This ‘house in the forest’ is not a fixed, static form but a living dialogue with its surroundings. The architecture emerges from a continuous exploration and response to the environment. It creates a space where the family can live together while allowing each member independence — a true part of the forest community.
Design Drawings
△ Plan View
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Branch Landscape
△ Foundation Plan
Project Information
Project Type: Independent Residential Building
Location: Rankoshi, Japan
Designer: Florian Busch Architects
Area: 230 m²
Year: 2020
Lead Architect: Florian Busch Architects
Design Team: Florian Busch, Sachiko Miyazaki, Mayo Shigemura, Luca Marulli, Tenesha Caton, Max Duval
Structural Engineers: OAK, Masato Araya, Takayaki Fujimoto
Construction: Wakisaka Corporation
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