KEIJI ASHIZAWA DESIGN

House in Saiko is a holiday home that overlooks Mount Fuji on the shore of Lake Saiko, one of the Five Fuji Lakes, a two-hour drive from Tokyo.
 
A rich natural environment surrounds the project site, and Mount Fuji is visible from among the trees on the south side of the property. The client was particularly fond of the rock faces and Japanese red pine trees growing on the cliffs that stand to the east of the site; this interest initiated the project.
 
The requirements were simple: one bedroom, one large bathroom and a living room where everyone could relax and sleep on a futon. A single piece of camphor wood, owned by the client, was installed in the centre of the living room. A large opening on the east side of the house and a garden with views of the majestic cliffs and Japanese red pines connect the living room to the exterior. The bathroom, located on the south side of the property, is a liberating space with views of Mount Fuji. The loft space is furnished with tatami mats and is the perfect size for relaxing while acting as a playground for the children who gather in this holiday home.
 
Simple spatial composition results in a powerful setting that shows off the free form of the camphor wood. The natural elements visible from the east and the perfectly balanced contrasts combine, enhancing people's awareness of the outside and creating a pleasant sense of tension that unites interior and exterior spaces.