soaring villa on the wing by milligram architectural studio

villa on the wing soars over hills by milligram architectural studio
image © villa on the wing by milligram architectural studio

perched on a sloped site in the forested region of karuizawa, a popular summer spot for tokyo-dwellers since the late 19th century, ‘villa on the wing’ is one of a series of holiday homes in the region by milligram architectural studio. the vacation house is a staggered composition of two fractured volumes over the curved ground plane that alternately reveal or conceal program with layered bands of glazing and board-marked cast concrete walls. the architectural mass appears to hover above grade and avoid the existing trees on the plot, going so far as to artfully puncture the large roof overhand with an aperture for the towering timber. discreet concrete pilotis visually counter the dramatic angular roof that extends far beyond the building volume. the covered spaces provided by these deep recesses are fundamental tectonic strategies of this series of homes, insomuch as they serve as architectural frames for the wooded surroundings.

night viewof the eaves on soaring villa on the wing by milligram architectural studio
image © milligram architectural studio

angled eaves provide covered spaces for the entrance

image © milligram architectural studio

bands of glazing and board-marked concrete provide tectonic dynamism

image © milligram architectural studio

the holiday house is composed of two concrete volumes

image © milligram architectural studio

project info: 

purpose: villa
building site: karuizawa
number of stories: 1f
structure: hybrid