A Forest Home in Hasami

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On the edge of a lush forest on Japan’s Kyushu island, this wood and glass family home by Tokyo-based architecture and interior design firm MMA Inc. emphasises the stunning views of the surrounding landscape

In the quiet town of Hasami, famed for its ceramics and porcelain production, this family home is situated between a lush forest and a plum tree grove. Overlooking the distant mountains, its asymmetrical silhouette harmoniously merges with the landscape while making a subtle statement.

Designed by Tokyo-based architecture and interior design studio MMA Inc, the 150-square-metre house is divided into four boxes of various sizes, stacked in an irregular horizontal line. A central corridor runs along the house and connects the main spaces, promoting air flow and movement across the different rooms. Adjacent to the entrance, a spacious glass-enclosed dining room and kitchen nook seems to blend into the forest. ‘It’s my favourite part of the house,’ says architect Momoko Kudo, founder of MMA. ‘It’s a beautiful scene that looks different in every season.’ Connected to the dining space, a large living room features similarly theatrical windows that look onto the plum tree grove in front of the house. On the second floor, the master bedroom boasts equally majestic views of the mountains.

What is perhaps most striking about the architecture is its generous volumes and vast full-height windows. ‘To achieve this, we used a construction method where the beams supporting the structure of the house are placed on the exterior of the roof,’ Kudo explains. ‘The result is wide spaces with large windows that invite the greenery in.’ On either side of the building, slim iron pillars provide additional support to the roof to protect the house from strong winds and typhoons.

Kudo opted for locally sourced wood as far as possible, pairing it with fair-toned walls and silver hardware to create an intriguing, intelligently designed structure that celebrates the surrounding environment.

Text / Nina Milhaud
Images / Katsuhiro Aoki

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