Pine Corridor House
Nagano
2025
2025
In Minamihara, Karuizawa, a single-story timber house of approximately 330 square meters was planned on a lush, green site. From the terrace and the large windows of each room, one can enjoy the changing scenery and seasonal expressions of nature. Based on the plan composition and careful consideration of the eaves height, three pine trees were placed in a meticulously composed courtyard—contrasting with the untamed landscape beyond. Like a large bonsai, this courtyard can be glimpsed from outside through the chestnut-wood lattice doors of the facade, while from within, the shifting light reveals the passage of time. A corridor encircles the courtyard, and in the section leading from the entrance to the living room, a folding screen depicting pine trees—designed by contemporary artist Hiroshi Sugimoto—is installed, echoing the pines of the courtyard. The main structural members—columns, beams, and girders—are made of generously scaled chestnut wood, while the exposed roof sheathing and rafters of the upward-sloping ceiling are crafted from reddish cedar. The contrast between the robust and the delicate detailing forms one of the architectural highlights of the house.
To ensure that the architecture would not assert an excessive presence amid the surrounding greenery, the roof height was kept deliberately low, and the sloping roof was carefully designed so that the eaves dropped gently on all sides. The roof gradient was set to allow snow to accumulate rather than slide off in winter; this gentle pitch and its low eaves keep the building's center of gravity low, creating a human scale and a calm sense of habitation. Among the many villas in Minamihara, Karuizawa—each with its own distinctive character—this house was conceived to stand quietly and modestly. From the road in front, its full form remains obscured by trees, preserving the feeling of untouched wilderness, while the restrained roofline allows the building to blend naturally into the landscape.
Tomoyuki Sakakida
To ensure that the architecture would not assert an excessive presence amid the surrounding greenery, the roof height was kept deliberately low, and the sloping roof was carefully designed so that the eaves dropped gently on all sides. The roof gradient was set to allow snow to accumulate rather than slide off in winter; this gentle pitch and its low eaves keep the building's center of gravity low, creating a human scale and a calm sense of habitation. Among the many villas in Minamihara, Karuizawa—each with its own distinctive character—this house was conceived to stand quietly and modestly. From the road in front, its full form remains obscured by trees, preserving the feeling of untouched wilderness, while the restrained roofline allows the building to blend naturally into the landscape.
Tomoyuki Sakakida
