Hakuba, Japan – Ski resort Hakuba in northern Japan has over 11 metres of snow in the winter, and is a green valley filled with blooms in the summer. To accommodate the extremes in weather, Naka Architects built a villa with a changeable fourth wall.
From one side, the home looks like a traditional villa, but when approached from the opposite side, it appears to be missing a wall. One side of the house has a transparent wall made of polycarbonate that is strong enough to withstand the heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures of the colder months, while thermal floor heating and piles of snow act as insulation. When the snow thaws, the wall can be removed to create an open-air room.
The modifications allow vast amounts of light throughout the seasons as well as a sense of immersion and connection with surrounding nature that traditional homes don’t provide.
LS:N Global will examine how society is responding to extremes of all sorts in our forthcoming Trend Briefing, The Polarity Paradox. To buy tickets, visit our Eventbrite page or email enquiries to Alena Joyette.