Ambience

CLOVISBARONIAN

“Amongst all the projects, this building had the most compelling, thoughtful, and consistent relationship to its site. The way that the outcroppings of rocks are integrated to both the interior and the exterior was beautiful. There was also a simplicity and spareness to the architecture that made it feel like it really fit in its place.”

—Matthew Griffith, FAIA

Conceived as a villa among rocks in Kitakaruizawa, Japan, this residence responds to its site’s geology, with rooms set between existing stone outcroppings. The central courtyard landscape, left in its natural state, becomes a private garden, while each pavilion houses a distinct ritual of dwelling—resting, dining, bathing, and self-care. A concrete wall assembly supports the wood roof, and regional stone completes the envelope, with portions of the existing rock cast into the construction to merge building and landscape. A geothermal radiant system provides interior conditioning, and the thermal mass of existing rocks and stone walls buffers seasonal extremes. Given the site’s isolation, ease and economy of construction were paramount. A flitch beam structure lightens members for manual installation, reducing reliance on heavy machinery.