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Itsu Sho Sha

AB Concept

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Living room of Itsu Sho Sha - Owen Raggett
In the south-eastern part of Nagano Prefecture, Karuizawa is one of the oldest and most famous summer resorts in Japan. - Owen Raggett
Branching off a tall corridor punctured with large boxy skylights, are the dining area, kitchen and bedroom. - Owen Raggett
Living room of Itsu Sho Sha - Owen Raggett

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Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
House
7.47
7.88
7.71
7.09
7.54
Josse Popma
Josse Popma Partner at Popma ter Steege Architects
What a lovely place, sprawling on...
7
8
9
6
7.5
Jessica Adkins
Jessica Adkins Brand Experience Design Lead Europe at M Moser Associates
7
8.5
8.9
7
7.85
Arthur Guimarães
Arthur Guimarães Chief Executive Officer at Arthur Guimarães Architects
Amazing and well executed project!...
9
9.5
9
8
8.88
Xuechen Chen
Xuechen Chen Architectural Designer at X.C Studio
The project seamlessly incorporates...
8
8
8.5
7.5
8
Serhii Makhno
Serhii Makhno Founder at MAKHNO Studio
9
9
9
9
9
Pooja Shah-Mulani
Pooja Shah-Mulani Partner and Design Director at LW Design
This is simply stunning! every deta...
9
10
9
8
9
Mariana Schimidt
Mariana Schimidt Founder at MNMA studio
7.07
7.05
8.06
6.5
7.17
Mark Eric Magno
Mark Eric Magno Principal at Aedas Interiors
Beautiful crafted interior spaces....
7.5
9.5
8
8
8.25
Mike McGirr
Mike McGirr Managing Partner and Design Principal at red design
7.74
7.92
8.81
7.11
7.9
Zizhao Li
Zizhao Li Cofounder and Chief Designer at DSC · Design
7
8.5
7
8.5
7.75
Katie Mitchell
Katie Mitchell Managing Director at Seen Studios
Beautifully sympathetic to its surr...
9
9
10
8
9
Burton Baldridge
Burton Baldridge Founder at Baldridge Architects
I have real problems with this proj...
6
6
2
5
4.75
Suvi Saloniemi
Suvi Saloniemi Head of Exhibitions at Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design Museum
5
5
5
5
5
Wenqing Zhou
Wenqing Zhou Founder at Add Culture & Creative Development
6.9
8.18
7.51
8
7.65
Anna Gitelman
Anna Gitelman Associate Professor at Suffolk University
Beautiful project showcasing a true...
8
8
9
8
8.25
Harkaran Singh Boparai
Harkaran Singh Boparai Founder at Space 5
7.53
7.53
7.6
7.88
7.64
Yan Zhang
Yan Zhang Cofounder at say architects
7.13
7.44
7.02
5
6.65
Jianan Shan
Jianan Shan Cofounder at say architects
7.13
6.61
7.13
7.13
7
G S Mahaboob Basha
G S Mahaboob Basha Cofounder at Taliesyn
7
6
6
5
6
Designer
Floor area
900 ㎡
Completion
2022
Social Media
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Lighting
Furniture
Furniture
Accessories
Fireplace

The designers fell in love with the location - the Karuizawa Hills, known for its natural hot springs, forests, and breathtaking mountain views - as the setting for their private home. The external architecture of the property blends subtly into its surroundings, offering 360-degree views of Karuizawa as if floating among its elevated plains, with the roofline mimicking the shape of the mountains beyond. Japanese cedar wood makes up a large proportion of the structure and is used on both the walls and ceilings, providing instant atmosphere and warmth. This is complemented by local stonework across floors and structural details, and expansive windows that amplify a sense of indoor-outdoor living. AB Concept often takes inspiration from nature, and in this case, the local surroundings were the central source of inspiration.

The designers approached the project without any master plan or blueprint, beginning from a place of complete openness - without the constraints of a client or deadline, they developed each and every element across architecture, interior design, and landscape. Having this freedom allowed the designers to approach planning with a considered slowness and mindfulness, allowing for complete clarity in the approach to the way in which they live, within and around the things and spaces they love.

The home is constructed in the form of a small village with several individual buildings making up the property, this concept largely sprung from a lifestyle recalibration, instigated by the pandemic lockdown. The house is built on the edge of a valley, across a steep slope. Whilst the designers could have viewed this as a challenge, they found that the landscape actually allowed for original thinking, lending to creative ideas around how they could play with perspective and scale. To address the unevenness of the land, the designers kept the ceilings low on the west side to create a sense of intimacy, whereas on the east side the structure was shaped to open dramatically. The design of these opposing ends of the property was effective in creating a 360-degree experience, and evidence that perceived ‘problems’ can often be reinterpreted as opportunities for innovative thinking.

If there is a single project that encapsulates care, creativity, and a philosophical approach, it is the private home in the Karuizawa Hills - namely, Itsu Sho Sha. The architectural structure of the property is an ode to its organic surroundings, seamlessly blending into the natural landscape. It was important to the designers to prioritise local materials, such as Japanese cedar wood and local stonework, throughout the interiors. Their philosophy around the mindful selection of local materials carries through to the furnishings and they were delighted to discover the many galleries, antiques shops, and museums of Karuizawa, incorporating many of the handcrafted items and antiques throughout the home.