Architects: YSLA Architects
Area: 70 m²
Year: 2023
Photographs: Munetaka Onodera
Interior Designers: YSLA architects
Contractors: DK Kensetsu
Structure Engineers: yAt structure design office limited liability Company, yAt Structure Design Office
Lighting Designers: Daisuki Lighting
City: Karuizawa
Country: Japan
“A Home Around the Forest,” a weekend retreat in Karuizawa, Japan, designed by YSLA for a Tokyo-based family, offers a serene escape into nature. Positioned in a familiar holiday destination, this residence serves as their personal 70sqm ‘hotel room’ in the forest, enhancing their leisure experiences. By embracing the concept of Shinrin-Yoku or ‘forest bathing,’ the design encourages creativity, boosts immunity, and reduces stress, fostering a profound connection with the surrounding landscape. The seamless integration of indoor and outdoor spaces allows the family to fully engage with the forest, ensuring a rejuvenating return to urban life.
![A-Home-Around-The-Forest-Ysla-Architects_4 A home around the forest / ysla architects](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/a-home-around-the-forest-ysla-architects_4.jpg)
“A Home Around the Forest” serves as a weekend residence in Karuizawa, Japan, tailored for a family of five from central Tokyo. The family, well-acquainted with the locale from numerous stays at nearby hotels, aspired to create their private retreat in the woods—a 70sqm family suite designed to maximize holiday enjoyment.
![Home Around The Forest / Ysla Architects 1 A home around the forest / ysla architects](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/a-home-around-the-forest-ysla-architects_2-1140x759.jpg)
![Home Around The Forest / Ysla Architects 2 A home around the forest / ysla architects](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/hnd-pb-plan-1-1140x806.jpg)
![Home Around The Forest / Ysla Architects 3 A home around the forest / ysla architects](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/a-home-around-the-forest-ysla-architects_7-1140x760.jpg)
At YSLA, the design was envisioned to enhance the quality moments the family spends together. The proposal encouraged a shift from urban hustle to tranquil forest living, promoting expansive and rejuvenating experiences immersed in nature.
![Home Around The Forest / Ysla Architects 4 A home around the forest / ysla architects](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/a-home-around-the-forest-ysla-architects_9-1140x855.jpg)
![Home Around The Forest / Ysla Architects 5 A home around the forest / ysla architects](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/a-home-around-the-forest-ysla-architects_12-1140x855.jpg)
This approach aligns with the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, or forest bathing, which is recognized for its ability to enhance creativity, strengthen immunity, and alleviate stress—essentially encapsulating the philosophy of ‘a healthy mind in a healthy body.’
![Home Around The Forest / Ysla Architects 6 A home around the forest / ysla architects](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/a-home-around-the-forest-ysla-architects_3.jpg)
![Home Around The Forest / Ysla Architects 7 A home around the forest / ysla architects](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/a-home-around-the-forest-ysla-architects_17.jpg)
The architectural execution involved constructing the residence such that it harmoniously integrates with the forest. Corridors extend outward, blurring the boundaries between the indoors and the outdoors. As a result, the forest merges with the living spaces, enhancing the spatial perception and connection to nature. The family enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, and by the end of their stay, they return to Tokyo revitalized, having spent a holiday that was healthy, balanced, and joy-filled.
![A-Home-Around-The-Forest-Ysla-Architects_5 A home around the forest / ysla architects](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/a-home-around-the-forest-ysla-architects_5.jpg)
Project Gallery
![Home Around The Forest / Ysla Architects 1 A home around the forest / ysla architects](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/a-home-around-the-forest-ysla-architects_2-1140x759.jpg)
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![Home Around The Forest / Ysla Architects 12 A home around the forest / ysla architects](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/a-home-around-the-forest-ysla-architects_11.jpg)
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![Home Around The Forest / Ysla Architects 2 A home around the forest / ysla architects](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/hnd-pb-plan-1-1140x806.jpg)
Project Location
Address: Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.