Split-Level Timber House Morimado House Blends Hokkaido Forest with Layered Interiors
A private residence in Hokkaido, Japan, designed by Yosuke Tomiya to seamlessly integrate the surrounding forest landscape into everyday living spaces.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Morimado House is a private residence designed by Yosuke Tomiya in Hokkaido, Japan.
- The split-level layout connects spaces fluidly while maintaining visual continuity.
- Simple materials like natural wood, white walls, and exposed concrete complement nature.
- A highly insulated timber structure is tailored to withstand Hokkaido's severe climate.
Architect Yosuke Tomiya has completed Morimado House, a private residence situated where a dense forest borders the rear of a site in Hokkaido, Japan. Rather than treating the surrounding woodland merely as a backdrop, the architectural concept establishes the forest as an essential component of daily life. Carefully calculated openings frame shifting seasonal scenery, allowing nature to maintain an active, living presence within the interior spaces.
The interior layout relies on a sequence of split-level zones that gently link various functions while preserving visual continuity throughout the home. A double-height living room, a window seat oriented toward the forest, and interconnected floor levels encourage communication among family members. These varied elevations provide multiple spots to spend time depending on personal mood and activities. Natural light drives the design, with large openings facing the woods, high-level windows, and architectural voids pulling daylight deep into the core, creating dynamic patterns of light and shadow.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Designing residential architecture in regions with harsh winters like Hokkaido requires a delicate balance between welcoming the outdoor scenery and maintaining rigorous thermal performance. Morimado House achieves this by pairing a highly insulated building envelope with strategic window placements that shield views from neighboring properties while framing the private forest landscape, showcasing a thoughtful approach to balancing openness with insulation in cold climates.
Constructed by Yosuke Tomiya Architectural Design Studio, the building utilizes a timber structure paired with a highly insulated envelope built to withstand Hokkaido's severe climate. A restrained material palette consisting of natural wood, white walls, and exposed concrete flooring forms a calm interior backdrop, allowing the evolving colors and textures of the forest throughout the year to take center stage. Ultimately, Morimado House establishes an environment where daily existence and the changing seasons quietly merge into one.
Source: designboom
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