Morito Beach is the largest stretch of sand in Hayama, one of Japan’s oldest coastal resort towns. The beach is a popular destination where local residents and visitors alike enjoy activities such as windsurfing and walking along the seaside while taking in views of Enoshima Island. Set directly on the shoreline, Diamas Hayama offers an ideal base for “workations” or a holiday home. Designed for sea lovers, this condominium development provides the rare luxury of a direct connection from the grounds to the beach.
Inside the shared entrance lobby, clerestory windows draw natural light into a spacious atrium while simultaneously ensuring privacy from the cluster of surrounding residences. The result is a space that evokes the atmosphere of a hotel lobby. All 17 units face either west toward the sunset or south toward the promontory of Morito Shrine, and each features a lanai with a span of up to 2.7 meters. This semi-open transitional space, equipped with outdoor furniture and decorated with greenery, allows residents to bask in the beautiful seaside setting.
The four-level (three aboveground and one basement) building secures a wide structural span by employing a reinforced-concrete rigid-frame structure with seismic shear walls. Each unit presents a minimal exterior defined by deep brise-soleils and partition walls. The use of flat slabs allows for the elimination of dropped beams, resulting in a clean timber-panelled ceiling plane. As a result, natural light reaches deep into the interior, giving rise to a bright, highly open living environment with the atmosphere and comfort of a private residence.
The Molteni kitchens installed in all of the units make it easy to host weekend gatherings with friends. The top-floor penthouse, which spans 250 square meters, features a private rooftop accessible via an internal staircase, where residents can enjoy barbecues while taking in views of Mount Fuji. The waterfront location creates a truly iconic beach house experience that is at once distinctive and contemporary luxury, while also embodying the concept of wellness-oriented architecture to deliver a lifestyle perfectly suited to the remote work era.
Architecture: Satoshi Kurosaki / APOLLO Architects & Associates Co., Ltd.
Photography: Masao Nishikawa