Shell by ARTechnic architects
Location: Karuizawa, Japan
Architect: ARTechnic
Completed: 2008

Photo: ARTechnic architects

This holiday villa in Karuizawa, Japan, could well owe something to Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater (see page 1); both buildings fit perfectly into their respective natural surroundings, while also echoing nature in their design.

Photo: ARTechnic architects

As its name suggests, the villa, which is set in woodland, is reminiscent of a shell.

Photo: ARTechnic architects

According to the architects, ARTechnic: 'being in sync with nature isn't about yielding to nature - it's about coexistence. The existence of the structure depends on its power to endure nature. By isolating living space from the wilderness, and upgrading its quality as a shelter, the house will be protected from nature and will provide a comfortable environment. With this, the house will be taken care of and used frequently and continuously.'