Nearby The Mountains, Japanese Firm READ & Architects Design A Modern Concrete Villa For Retirement

The house is formed from two blocks connected by a glazed corridor, which is surrounded by a series of gardens and patios peppered throughout the property. The gardens feature details including boulders, stepping stones, and a reflective pool. The larger volume operates as the living quarters for the couple, with the smaller one for guests, housing an extra bedroom and a traditional Japanese tatami room. The form of the house is characterized by its angular, sculptural roofs, which create varying ceiling heights throughout the home’s interior. Surrounded by fir trees and with a view of Mount Asama, the residence allows the owners to live among nature. “What is a life after retirement in ‘the 100-year life?’ Taking inspiration from the ancient Japanese way of life of ‘symbiosis,’ we thought of a house that snuggles up to the couple’s life,” explains a statement from the firm. “Symbiotic house with its two large roofs gently envelops the symbiosis of the couple.”