satoru ito supports japanese mountain lodge with natural log frame

satoru ito supports japanese mountain lodge with natural log frame
all images © takeshi yamagishi

built on a hill adjacent to a river, satoru ito architects have built ‘WEEK kamiyana’ – a guest lodge based in the rural surroundings of tokushima, japan. the scheme takes advantage of its unique location by creating a facility that would fit appropriately into its natural surroundings. based on a narrow plot of land, the architects opted for all the rooms to face the river valley.

a ‘rahmen’ frame was chosen to limit the number of columns that would deter guest’s view

‘in order to enjoy this view, I initially thought of using glass to construct the riverside wall. of course, if the riverside wall has a big window, but then I thought simply using glass was not sufficient, I wanted to create the experience of being exposed totally to the environment.’ comments architect satoru ito

timber architecture in japan normally calls for aseismatic requirements. this inherently influenced the choice of using a ‘rahmen rigid frame structure’ for its construction – the specific layout limits the use of pillars and walls which would disturb the view. presented with difficulty to find timber columns in the local sawmill with a large enough diameter, with permission, the architects went to the forest to retrieve their pillars taken directly from tree trunks.

located in a valley, the lodge is comprised across two floors

composed of two levels, the mountain lodge hosts different sized accommodation from shared bunk-beds to private rooms. outdoor staircases lead up to the second floor with the distinct tree trunks and timber frame work exposed – making it a scheme that blends well with its landscape.

unable to find wide enough columns, the building uses cut logs taking directly from the nearby forest

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