The scent of trees, the chirping of birds, and the gentle breeze through the branches.
The five unique villas scattered among a grove of trees are architectural works
that display Shigeru Ban's ideas and playful spirit.
From structure to interior design, each space surprises
with a liberating sense of melding into the surroundings.
This villa, a recreation of a vacation home built in Karuizawa in 1997, is centered on a distinctive space with three sides enclosed by sliding glass doors. The transparent, exceptionally open space blends into its natural surroundings. From the sofas and bathroom, enjoy a sense of floating among the trees, sea, and sky.
This villa employs Ban’s signature recycled paper tubes for the primary structure, and is a recreation of a villa built in 1995 on Lake Yamanaka. A rhythmical S-shaped array of 110 paper tubes frames an airy space in which light spills through gaps between the columns. The S-shape of paper tubes also envelops an open-air bath.
This villa, newly designed for Simose Art Garden Villa, is centered on a cross formed by two intersecting walls, which serve as the primary structure and support a living space that floats above the ground. The living room-style bath area on the top floor has a hinoki bath and daybed overlooking the Seto Inland Sea.
This villa has a distinctive double-roof structure in which the roof and ceiling are separated, and is a remake of a private retreat built in 1993 on a slope alongside Lake Yamanaka. The villa features a terrace that blends into the ocean, sky, and greenery, where guests will find a Jacuzzi tub and daybed at the top of a spiral staircase.
This villa, which uses furniture such as closets and bookshelves as walls and pillars, is a remake of a vacation home built in 1995 alongside Lake Yamanaka. The villa includes at-home comforts including a kitchen and a Japanese-style room with a sunken low table.
