Thriving in the woods

Built in the mountains, the house is a long-awaited dream that has finally come true. Without superfluous decorations, natural elements such as stone, driftwood and solid wood create a harmonious dialogue with the forest.

As a family vacation retreat, the large floor-to-ceiling windows introduce maximum light into the house. Meanwhile, the greenery becomes a view in the house. The duplex apartment retains partially its height. Combined with an open layout, it opens up an unrestricted and wide view.

The outdoor garden is embedded with the imagery of Japanese dry landscape, and the dark brown iron pieces on the outside symbolize the bamboo fence. Plantings, moss, and standing stones in the garden convey a meditation vibe. The gravel path connects with the large and white stone bricks, leading the residents into this tranquil fortress gradually.

The exterior of the building is composed of gray and white colors, while the square shape gives the residents a sense of stability. The house orientation is based on the angle of sunlight at sunrise and sunset, eliminating the harsh direct light. The spread of light creates different spatial expressions.

The elevated floor under the staircase is used as a relaxing sunbathing space. In one glance, you can see the ingenious TV wall as the foreground and the movement of the occupants as the middle shot. Besides, the steel staircase and vista wall serve as the distant view. The combination and stacking of materials create a rich layering.

The dining room is decorated with rough culture stones, and the connection with nature is deepened by relief wood carving patterns, solid wood dining chairs and nodes on the veneer.

Driftwoods can be seen in the foyer on the first floor and the bookcase on the second floor, where the old woods collected from the seaside is dried, sanded, and painted, giving them a new life to make resources sustainable. The irregular shapes of driftwoods also echo the natural and original appearance of all things on earth, bringing a closer link between people and nature.