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.