Jozankei House | Hokkaido, Japan | 2023

Category: Private Homes
Architecture Office: Alt Design and Construction
Lead Architect: Vincent McIlduff
Design Team: Vincent McIlduff
Client: Ivy Hospitality Group Photographer: Aaron Jamieson 

The project examines the creation of “a little slice of Japan,” responding to a Hong Kong–based client’s brief for a fragment of Japanese ethos encompassing lifestyle, culture, and tranquility, conceived as a serene retreat for escape and relaxation.

Our vision for this project was to reinterpret traditional Japanese vernacular through a modern lens, tailored to meet the unique needs of an international client and their family. 

The site itself posed a challenge, nestled between a bustling road and a steep ravine. The design concept responds to 
 this duality by closing off the structure on one side for privacy and opening it on the other to embrace light and nature. This creates a sense of balance, echoing the original intent: a sanctuary from the frenetic pace of Hong Kong life, centered on the timeless beauty of Japan.

Hokkaido seems to guard its natural beauty with its unforgiving environment, a land of contrasts, where hot summers meet brutal winters. This contrast presents a unique challenge for any architect. In response, we designed a home with two distinct personalities: one that embraces the warmth of summer and another that retreats into a cozy sanctuary during winter. 

In the summer months, the home opens itself to nature. Facades unfold into traditional Japanese covered walkways, allowing gentle breezes to flow through and naturally 
ventilate the interiors. Gardens emerge from the snowmelt, like hidden treasures revealed in spring, weaving life into the landscape. 

As winter descends, the home transforms into a cocoon. It closes itself off, becoming a warm, inviting haven, with fireplaces at its heart and naturally heated onsen baths 
providing a soothing and warm retreat. The house becomes a living auditorium, offering a front-row seat to the serene beauty of Hokkaido’s snow-covered landscape. 

The home is built primarily from wood, a material that has been used for millennia in Japan. The structural timber and natural wood cladding are sourced from sustainable, 
regenerative local forests, making it an environmentally conscious choice. Wood’s ability to store carbon further enhances its sustainability, ensuring the building treads lightly on the planet. 

To complement this, we tapped into geothermal energy, drilling for hot spring water to heat the onsen baths and spa. Thick insulation and triple-glazed windows ensure warmth during the harsh winters, while overhanging roofs and shaded walkways mitigate solar gain, keeping the home cool during the summer months. 

This design harmonizes with Hokkaido’s extremes, creating a home that adapts, evolves, and thrives, just like the landscape surrounding it.