Wooden Sash｜Custom-built homes by architecture firms9Picks｜Warm Materiality

Windows are openings that bring light, breeze and views into the interior, and they are also a design element that strongly shapes a dwelling’s character. Compared with aluminum or uPVC frames, wooden window frames combine a warm, tactile material quality with superior thermal performance, and have long been employed in Northern European and Western residential traditions. The wood’s expression, which gains depth with the passage of time, imparts a richness of time to the home. At the same time, it is important to choose them with an understanding that periodic repainting and maintenance are required. Architectural practices plan openings that harmonize with the overall concept of the building by comprehensively assessing the performance, design and maintainability of wooden frames. Here we present examples of homes that embody a conscientious commitment to materiality.

This residence, located in an upscale residential neighborhood of Ashiya City, is a building with one basement level and two above‑ground timber-framed storeys. To secure the view from the living and dining areas, the first floor is raised approximately 1.5 m above the existing ground level, with a basement planned beneath. The volume facing the street features low eaves to reduce a sense of enclosure and present an elevation that sits gently within the streetscape. Two staggered volumes are linked by a stair core, creating a dynamic composition. A reflecting water basin is placed beyond the entrance hall, and the overall design evokes the calmness and richness of an Asian resort.

This residence, built on a site surrounded by abundant trees, is themed around living in close harmony with nature. Evoking the scene of fallen leaves overlapping, four roof planes are brought together, under which the family’s living spaces unfold. The roofs gently envelop the spaces while, through gaps between walls and roofs, they direct sightlines and awareness toward the surrounding natural elements—trees, sky, and ground. By drawing the shifting qualities of light and breeze into everyday life and arranging spaces so occupants can perceive seasonal and temporal changes, the design achieves a rich living environment in which family and nature are calmly connected.

Responding to a site enclosed by residences on all sides, this dwelling brings light and greenery into a U‑shaped courtyard at its heart. Employing an east‑facing garden strategy to capture morning light from the east while securing daylighting from the south, the design achieves a sense of openness that belies its total floor area of 26 tsubo (approximately 86 m²). A deck level with the living room provides a pleasant, outward extension of the living space. Trees such as Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) and olive animate the seasons, completing a home in which the family can peacefully spend the years together.

This residence is sited on the slope of an elevated hillside with views to the sea and mountains, and is conceived for a multi‑base lifestyle. Prompted by the increase in remote work, it was planned as a new base that accommodates both work and leisure. In addition to a study designed for focused work and dedicated spaces for meetings, the house provides flexible areas for family and friends to stay. The building employs natural materials such as timber and is situated to integrate with the landscape. Openings and vistas are composed according to programmatic requirements, allowing occupants to enjoy unhurried time with framed views of the sea and mountains.

The site is located within a villa estate on the Yatsugatake Plateau, surrounded by natural stands of larch and white birch, creating a quiet, tranquil atmosphere. The approach to the site is from the northern corner of a Y‑shaped road, and views of the Yatsugatake mountain range open to the north. The building is elevated on its foundation to enhance privacy. The floor plan responds to the surrounding vistas by providing generous openings along the north–south axis: the living and dining areas are oriented to take advantage of these views, with the bedroom positioned on the west side. The living area features a double‑height void, with a loft space located to its north.

This house in Toda City, Saitama Prefecture responds to an environment of surrounding factories, warehouses, and heavy traffic by adopting a closed composition toward the street. An internal courtyard brings in daylight and natural ventilation while maintaining separation from the exterior, creating a calm residential environment. By engaging with its context, the dwelling produces a rich, inward‑focused living realm.

A residence planned around a central courtyard, designed to be lived in harmony with nature. The layout ensures the presence of the signature tree can be perceived from any point within the house, and the greenery unfolding beyond the windows adds a tranquil accent to daily life. The garden views, which present different expressions depending on the vantage point, change with the passage of seasons and time, imparting a rich sense of depth to the dwelling. Within spaces where interior and exterior are gently connected, this is a quiet, comfortable home in which the nuances of the four seasons can be experienced close at hand.

This residence is organized in a ring plan centered on a large central courtyard. The courtyard, enclosed by two-storey-high walls, screens views from the outside while channeling light and breeze deep into the interior. The living-dining area is nestled between a lush outer garden and a courtyard with a deck, creating a luxurious space where the changing seasons can be experienced up close. A corridor that circulates around the courtyard enriches everyday circulation with varied vistas and establishes a comfortable rhythm to daily life. The design also includes a bath court and a rooftop deck, achieving an open, nature-connected way of living throughout the home.

A residence for three generations—a family of five—located in the hilly and upland interior of Hiroshima Prefecture, where gentle mountains and pastoral fields spread. In the garden is a large weeping cherry that, as a regional symbol, is loved by the family and neighbors; in the cherry season acquaintances and friends visit for viewing, hold banquets and stay overnight. How to incorporate, harmonize with, and pass on this cherry—which has witnessed the family's growth and life, connected people, and lived with the town's changes—into the new home became a major theme.