ICHI "EN"

Fujikawaguchiko, Japan

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ICHI "EN"

Fujikawaguchiko, Japan

Firm

orta

Type

Hospitality + Sport › Hotel
Landscape + Planning › Private Garden

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2025

SIZE

0 sqft - 1000 sqft

［The Vision and Context］
"ICHI ‘En’ " is a renovation project of a traditional Japanese residence located on the premier lakeside of Lake Kawaguchiko, now serving as a private, whole-house rental villa where guests can stay with their animals. The site occupies a prominent front-row position facing Mt. Fuji, situated in a vibrant area popular with tourists on buses and rental cycles. As the flagship for the "ICHI" brand—defined by the core philosophies of "Gathering at Fuji with all family and friends" and "Never leaving animals behind"—the design was tasked with a dual challenge. We aimed to provide a space where guests could enjoy the surrounding environment of Kawaguchiko and Mt. Fuji while ensuring a safe, intimate, and comfortable sanctuary for the "family" (both humans and animals) amidst a high-traffic tourist zone.

［Spatial Composition: The Seamless One-Room］
Our architectural response was to propose a singular, expansive "one-room" environment that blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior. At the heart of the house is a large doma (earthen floor) that transitions seamlessly into the garden. Surrounding this doma, we arranged the living, dining, and kitchen areas along with the bedrooms in an L-shaped configuration. This layout creates a cohesive living landscape; whether animals are running through the garden or the doma, or people are gathered around the dining table, every family member can always feel each other's presence, even while relaxing in their own preferred spots.

［A Sequence of Elevation and Intimacy］
The sectional logic draws inspiration from the original building’s interior, where floor levels rise in incremental steps against the consistent line of tare-kabe (hanging walls). Extending this sectional logic into the garden via a gradual slope creates a seamless topographical sequence, transitioning from the landscape into stepped interior platforms. As one moves deeper from the open garden toward the rear, the visual perspective lowers, allowing the innermost sleeping quarters to offer a grounded, serene atmosphere that feels deeply sheltered yet remains viscerally connected to the outdoors.

［Landscaping and Boundary Design］
This topographical approach also serves as a strategic solution for the site’s boundaries. While a 1.5-meter safety fence was required for the animals, the lowered ground level—integral to the sectional flow—effectively reduces the fence’s visual impact from the street side. By integrating this boundary with a lush planting zone, the fence is transformed into a soft, green edge that keeps the garden feeling open and free. It allows the private space to merge naturally with the nearby fields and townscape, maintaining a continuous dialogue with Mt. Fuji.

［Structural Innovation for the Fuji Panorama］
While the ground floor offers framed views of the mountain, the second floor provides an unobstructed, monumental panorama. Here, we placed a semi-open-air bath and a private bedroom. To support the significant load of the newly installed bathtub, we engineered a new foundation and steel frame directly beneath it. This structural intervention serves a dual purpose: it supports the weight of the water and bears the horizontal loads for the south side of the building. This allowed us to achieve the large-span openings on the ground floor while simultaneously realizing the luxury of an elevated, open-air bath.

［Beyond "Pet-Friendly”］
Throughout the planning process, we engaged in deep discussions with the client to move beyond the typical "pet-friendly" paradigm—which often prioritizes only maintenance-friendly materials and amenities. Instead, we focused on the essential spatial qualities required to welcome animals as integral family members. ICHI "En" stands as a testament to architecture that fosters a deeper bond between people, animals, and the surrounding landscape.

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ICHI "EN"

Fujikawaguchiko, Japan

ICHI "EN"

Fujikawaguchiko, Japan

Product Spec Sheet

Collaborating Firms

Team