Type: Residential
Location: YHirafu, Hokkaido, Japan
Project Date: 2010—2013
Team: Florian Busch, Sachiko Miyazaki, Tomoyuki Sudo, Holger Pausch (Intern)
Structural Engineering: ARUP (Masamichi Sasatani, Kengo Takamatsu)
Contractor: Sudo Corporation
Client: Hokkaido Tracks
Size: GFA – 154 m² (+ 44 m² terrace)
Structure: Reinforced Concrete

This is a look at the concrete walls on the side of the staircase that leads into the house.

This is another look at the idustrial-style stairs entrance of the house with a view of the concrete tall ceiling.

The house has a long hallway with a sitting area at the far end by the large glass window, perfect for a reading nook.

The living room has a cushioned wooden sofa that matches well with the hardwood flooring complemented by the concrete walls and ceiling.

The gray exterior of the house makes it stand out against the green tall trees of the landscaping.

This is a closer look at the dark exterior wall of the house.

This is a close look at the window that brings in natural lighting to complement the concrete walls and ceiling.

This is a view of the frozen landscape outside from the vantage of the window.

This is the backyard swimming pool with a raised walkway sided with railings.

This is a closer look at the exterior of the large glass window complemented by the dark tone of the walls.

This is a view of the house exterior during winter making the dark exterior walls and windows stand out against the white surroundings.

This is a far look at the house during winter. This shows the lay of the land and how the structures of the house stand out.

This is an illustration of the house's site map and location.

This is a graphic explanation and definition for escarpment.

This is a graphic representation of the house concept.

This is an illustration of the house floor plan.

The L House in Hirafu is a private holiday residence in Niseko, Hokkaido. Following the escarpment that defined the topography in prehistoric times, the site is a steep slope with un-compromised views of Mount Yotei.

Despite being located not far from the House on the Slopes, the ground conditions here vary so drastically that excavating the mountain would lead to massive reinforced retaining walls and hence a prohibitive increase in cost. In response to such constraints and in order to exploit the site’s view, we proposed a house in the trees.

Where the topography shifted and slid vertically creating the escarpment with its stunning views, the L House is split and shifted horizontally, a simple gesture that opens up space and views as the building seems to move up the slope.

Like the building itself, the internal layout is kept in simplicity: Entering below the overhang of the upper volume, a staircase moves along the rear wall of the lower level to come out ‘rotated’ in the upper level, rendering the shift of the volumes visible as if one had climbed the slope towards Mount Yotei.

The wide living and kitchen area extends onto a terrace (the roof of the lower volume) with an open-air bath. The private sleeping and bathing areas are on the lower level which is just high enough to enjoy wide views of the valley lying under the escarpment and at the foot of Mount Yotei.