The village in the forest

A high population density in cities, loud background noise, omnipresent hustle and bustle: who doesn't occasionally wish to break out of this scenario and retreat to a quiet place, far away from it all? We present you two different examples of retreats whose architecture is in harmony with nature.

In the middle of the forests of Karuizawa, on a 5,800 m² hilly property, a family of four had a weekend residence built by the well-known Japanese architecture and design firm Nendo. This was done in the form of a ‘village’, consisting of a total of six elements shaped like wooden houses. These compact houses, each measuring just 20 m², are linked by a large, wrap-around wooden terrace that nestles against the natural slope as a platform on black round columns, revealing a magnificent view of Mount Asama (active volcano in central Honshū, the main island of Japan, Ed.) on the opposite side. The second connection between the houses is the shared roofscape, which stands out against the light-coloured terrace with its black colour. The different angles and varying alignment of the buildings create a lively up and down, which reflects the hilly surroundings and extends across the entire surface without interruption.

The terrace and roofscape are an expression of the basic design idea of this house, namely ‘a family whose members hold hands’. This imaginary thought also gave the project the name ‘Hand-in-Hand House’. The floor plan, but also the design of the individual cottages, which in principle consist of only one room, are based on the individuality of their inhabitants. In this way, the house maintains a respectful distance that honours the time and uniqueness of each family member while still promoting connection between family members. Each cottage houses a specific function, such as the kitchen, dining area or bedrooms. These are small rooms with different characteristics and comfort levels that simultaneously allow a sense of unity under one roof.

"The cottages are gently nested within each other, with the roofs harmoniously reaching out to one another."

© Nendo

The interiors, with their curved white ceilings, contrast just as strikingly with the black roof as the light-coloured wooden facades. The gentle undulations create a sense of visual lightness, which is further enhanced by the generous floor-to-ceiling glass surfaces that seamlessly connect the interior with the exterior and reveal the view of the forest. The rooms themselves were furnished with light-coloured wooden panelling for the walls and floors. The interior is dominated by shades of grey and light wood in the furnishings and surfaces. The furniture was deliberately kept simple, understated and minimalist to match the sculpted ceilings. To give just one example: the furniture consists only of the rectangular bathtub, a dining set, a kitchenette, a bed and otherwise just the restful emptiness.

Let’s opt for a change of scenery and go to another ‘village’: the architecture and interior design firm AW², under the direction of Reda Amalou and Stéphanie Ledoux, was commissioned to plan four new huts to supplement the existing 25 huts used by tourists on a 150-hectare site in the village of Chassey-les-Montbozon in the French region of Franche-Comté (east of France, bordering Switzerland, Ed.). The collaboration between the creative agency and the company Coucoo Cabanes was based on shared values, namely, on the one hand, to create sustainable architecture with a high added value in terms of a customised bioclimatic approach in symbiosis with the environment and, on the other hand, to reflect the client's irrefutable environmental principles, which are committed to vibrant biodiversity and better interaction between humans and nature. Thanks to meticulous planning, the components were manufactured and assembled in just four months, and then erected on site in seven weeks.

The four cabins at the Grand Lacs estate are the first in a series of collaborations between the studio and Coucoo Cabanes. From the outset, the focus was on harmoniously combining architecture and nature. This is also what attracts guests to the estate, who can enjoy peace and tranquillity in the presence of sublime nature. The cabin, which can be lived in, is surrounded by a protective shell and is spread over three levels. Its design is reminiscent of a bud about to bloom: the outer structure opens up to reveal the interior spaces, which, while sheltered, allow the surrounding landscape to enter. From the first level on stilts, you can already take in the view and the gentle breeze. Here, on a large sheltered terrace, guests can live outdoors, protected from rain and sun. On the second level is the bedroom, which is naturally ventilated by the open bay windows. On the third level is a Nordic bath where guests can relax while immersing themselves in the water, at the same time disappearing among the treetops.

In this project, the choice of materials and construction methods enhances the experience of being in close contact with nature. The location of each cabin is studied and determined based on the opportunities offered by the terrain. The aim is to protect the natural environment as much as possible while creating the optimal experience for guests. The cabins were built by MCF Bois, a company specialising in timber construction whose production workshop is just over an hour from the Grands Lacs site. Douglas fir was chosen as the type of wood, with trees felled less than 30 kilometres from the workshop. The cabins were prefabricated in the workshop and then transported to the construction site. This prefabrication and the use of suitable lifting equipment reduced the construction time on site to just four days per cabin. As a result, the impact on the site was minimal, helping to protect the site and its biodiversity. The Coucoo Cabanes project thus supports the local economy, reduces the carbon footprint thanks to short transport distances and promotes traditional craftsmanship in the region.

The wooden furniture was specially designed to blend in with the architecture. The bed is positioned in the middle and also serves as a room divider in the bedroom. The lounge area, on the other hand, consists of a simple, curved bench and a coffee table. At the back of the hut, screened by the headboard, are the integrated washbasin and dry toilet. A wardrobe and a shelf complete the furnishings. Thermal comfort was also important, and this is enhanced by high-performance insulation of the building envelope and by the openings in the opposite facade. This allows air to circulate, with additional support by a fan above the bed. The room is therefore predominantly open plan and offers a constant visual connection with the landscape outside.

The hotel company, which specialises in wilderness holidays, built its first cabins 15 years ago. Its ‘raison d'être’ is to rethink tourism. The properties are firmly rooted in the region, with a strong local influence, and each project is exemplary and committed to the environment at every stage: from study and design to construction, operation and management plan. There are 20 to 30 huts per site, spread over dozens of hectares in places of outstanding natural beauty. The huts are consistently built from sustainable materials and fully integrated into the environment. Each project is tailored to its specific location. Coucoo Cabanes now has five properties in three regions of France and confirms it has more exciting projects in the pipeline.