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Japan Houzz: A Family Holiday Home Immersed in Nature
How a homeowner and architect's journey to “bring the house closer to nature” resulted in a family's dream holiday home
For almost three years, homeowner Takashi Sano searched for the perfect plot of land on which he could build a holiday home for his family. As fruitless years passed, he changed tack: “I wouldn’t have been able to give my kids the holiday-home experience if that search had gone on any longer. I decided to buy a house that had already been built and renovate it,” he says.
After settling on this 10-year-old property in Karuizawa, a famous summer resort area in Japan’s Nagano Prefecture, Sano turned to Houzz to find an architect who could connect the house with its natural surroundings.
After settling on this 10-year-old property in Karuizawa, a famous summer resort area in Japan’s Nagano Prefecture, Sano turned to Houzz to find an architect who could connect the house with its natural surroundings.
The existing house had great potential, with full-height glazing on the eastern side and a fireplace that can also be used for cooking, but the interior and exterior were completely separate. There was no direct connection between the garden and the balcony – a potential problem if the kids were playing in the garden and needed their parents’ attention. To rectify this, Sano asked Hatori to “bring the house closer to nature”.
Hatori addressed this by drawing up a vast, multipurpose, two-level timber deck with eight steps that gently descend to the lower level. The new design expanded the 16-square-metre balcony into a 60-square-metre deck. Now, everyone from the adults to the kids, guests and the family dog can interact and move easily between indoors and out.
Hatori addressed this by drawing up a vast, multipurpose, two-level timber deck with eight steps that gently descend to the lower level. The new design expanded the 16-square-metre balcony into a 60-square-metre deck. Now, everyone from the adults to the kids, guests and the family dog can interact and move easily between indoors and out.
Many of the existing trees and plants along the building remain. The timber deck now connects the surrounding trees on the living-room side to the covered entrance.
Thinking of renovating? Find local architects near you on Houzz with knowledge of your locale, browse their projects and read reviews from previous clients
Thinking of renovating? Find local architects near you on Houzz with knowledge of your locale, browse their projects and read reviews from previous clients
The wide top of the deck’s handrail doubles as a bar to rest food and drinks on. Hatori also adjusted the height of the stairs so they could be used as a bench.
Beyond her rapid response and flair for design, Sano appreciated many of the suggestions Hatori made, which only a local designer could offer. For instance, she installed retractable tent fabric to shade the pergola, but also had the idea of building a small roof where the shade cloth folds to prevent falling leaves from settling on it. For Sano, this is not just design adapted to the building: it demonstrates the architect’s attentive care to the house, which is now perfectly suited to its purpose and climate.
Beyond her rapid response and flair for design, Sano appreciated many of the suggestions Hatori made, which only a local designer could offer. For instance, she installed retractable tent fabric to shade the pergola, but also had the idea of building a small roof where the shade cloth folds to prevent falling leaves from settling on it. For Sano, this is not just design adapted to the building: it demonstrates the architect’s attentive care to the house, which is now perfectly suited to its purpose and climate.
Pictured here, Hatori removed one step from the wooden deck stairs to create a comfortable place to sit down, just as the owner requested.
Browse beautiful Australian-designed decks inspired by different Asian cultures
Browse beautiful Australian-designed decks inspired by different Asian cultures
The previous bathroom, a prefabricated unit, had a small window that didn’t really offer a view of the landscape. Hatori combined the existing bathroom and toilet to create one 4.9-square-metre space.
Thanks to the Japanese cypress walls, “it offers the ultimate bathing experience with a pleasant aroma”, says Sano. The space and its view are so calming that Sano’s wife sometimes enjoys a bath here three times a day.
Thanks to the Japanese cypress walls, “it offers the ultimate bathing experience with a pleasant aroma”, says Sano. The space and its view are so calming that Sano’s wife sometimes enjoys a bath here three times a day.
The flooring is thinly lacquered Mortex. “It’s a mortar-like plastering material with a soft texture and smooth touch – we love it,” says Sano. The interplay of natural light and shadow throughout the day add interest and bring rich patterns to the surface.
Asked to build a terrace outside the bathroom, Hatori designed this small, secluded deck. This new bath terrace measures 7.5 square metres and is surrounded by slanted timber screening on both sides, which matches the existing outer walls in colour. It offers privacy and protects the little deck from view, so the owners can cool off here after a bath.
The opening features three double-glazed sliding doors. There are also blinds for any guests who may want more privacy.
Hatori swapped out the lighting for a mixture of ceiling downlights and subtle strip lighting along one wall, which adds to the feeling of depth in the small space.
She also replaced the vanity, ran a shallow shelf along the wall and introduced a natural timber-framed mirror that aligns better with the window. The uniformity of the design gives the space more charm and the vanity makes better use of the space underneath the basin.
Removing the vinyl wall covering on the walls and ceiling, Hatori created a brighter and wider space with an emulsion paint finish. The same Mortex render on the floor and walls in the main bathroom adorns the top of the vanity.
She also replaced the vanity, ran a shallow shelf along the wall and introduced a natural timber-framed mirror that aligns better with the window. The uniformity of the design gives the space more charm and the vanity makes better use of the space underneath the basin.
Removing the vinyl wall covering on the walls and ceiling, Hatori created a brighter and wider space with an emulsion paint finish. The same Mortex render on the floor and walls in the main bathroom adorns the top of the vanity.
Hatori decorated the existing timber wall panelling with sky-blue paint that she selected “to create a fresh look”. The corridor floor and walls were left as they were. “It’s amazing how you can create another world just through the colours and materials you choose,” says Sano.
The ceiling was refreshed and painted white, again to maintain an airy ambience.
Hatori designed a moulded, frame-like section to hide the door frame of the former toilet. “These thorough designs drilled down to the last details, meaning we could get as close to our ideal home as possible,” says Sano.
The ceiling was refreshed and painted white, again to maintain an airy ambience.
Hatori designed a moulded, frame-like section to hide the door frame of the former toilet. “These thorough designs drilled down to the last details, meaning we could get as close to our ideal home as possible,” says Sano.
Due to the challenges of the pandemic, Sano only saw Hatori three times at his family’s holiday house in Karuizawa. All other conversations were over the phone or online.
Nevertheless, communication progressed smoothly for both the homeowner and architect: when Hatori sent Sano messages with hand-drawn sketches, he would immediately get back to her with modifications in red or contact her by phone. In fact, Hatori completed the plans in about two weeks.
Nevertheless, communication progressed smoothly for both the homeowner and architect: when Hatori sent Sano messages with hand-drawn sketches, he would immediately get back to her with modifications in red or contact her by phone. In fact, Hatori completed the plans in about two weeks.
For Sano, the Estimates that Hatori sent him via Houzz Pro, which let homeowners quickly view, approve and decline quotes, were particularly handy. “Important documents like this don’t get mixed up with other messages, and being able to complete transactions within the Houzz platform made everything straightforward,” he says.
With the renovations now complete, Sano and his family enjoyed their first summer together in their new holiday home, escaping the scorching Tokyo heat for happy moments of relaxing on the spacious deck and soaking in the scenic bath.
Raised in Japan’s Nara Prefecture, which is overflowing with nature, Sano was finally able to realise his dream of letting his three school-aged kids “experience living in a lush, green environment with clean air” beyond their Tokyo base.
Your turn
Are you as in love with this home as we Houzzers are? In the Comments, tell us which elements you love most. And remember to like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the renovation conversation.
More
Keen to see another beautiful home that celebrates the joy of natural materials? Don’t miss this Cotswolds Houzz: Country-Meets-Coastal Makeover in a Tiny Cottage
Raised in Japan’s Nara Prefecture, which is overflowing with nature, Sano was finally able to realise his dream of letting his three school-aged kids “experience living in a lush, green environment with clean air” beyond their Tokyo base.
Your turn
Are you as in love with this home as we Houzzers are? In the Comments, tell us which elements you love most. And remember to like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the renovation conversation.
More
Keen to see another beautiful home that celebrates the joy of natural materials? Don’t miss this Cotswolds Houzz: Country-Meets-Coastal Makeover in a Tiny Cottage
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple, their three children and dog holiday here
Location: Karuizawa, Japan
Design: Hideko Hatori of Atelier Hatori
Construction: Takehana Kougyo
Completion date: October 2020
Sano, who is based in Tokyo where he works as a company manager, wanted an architect who was well-versed in the beauty and extremes of the local climate, so he narrowed down his search on Houzz to Nagano-based professionals.
Luckily for architect Hideko Hatori of Atelier Hatori, who had just signed up to Houzz Pro (business management software for architects, designers and professionals) a few weeks earlier, Sano shortlisted her as one of four candidates.
According to the homeowner, Hatori’s “quick response and prompt proposal that went above and beyond expectations” were the deciding factors, and Sano went on to engage her for this project.