Homes Featuring Wood-Burning Stoves｜Custom-built homes by architecture firms8Picks｜Living with the Warmth of Fire

The flicker of flames and the radiant heat produced by a wood-burning stove constitute a form of domestic richness that goes beyond the mere function of a heating appliance. Introducing a wood stove into a dwelling requires comprehensive consideration from the design stage: the placement and height of the chimney, finishes using non-combustible materials in the immediate vicinity, provision of logistical routes for the delivery and storage of firewood, and a maintenance plan. Balancing the stove with the room’s airtightness and thermal insulation performance is also essential; in highly airtight, high-performance homes an appropriate strategy for external air supply must be incorporated. We organize considerations regarding stove model, frequency of use, and spatial layout, and present examples of generous homes where the hearth becomes the focal point for family gathering.

Located in an urban area of western Saitama Prefecture, this project replaces a long-held family property with a two-family (two-generation) dwelling. The existing garden, with its mature trees, constitutes a valuable remnant of greenery within the block; the design carefully addresses both the preservation of this garden and the spatial relationship between households. Retaining the wisteria pergola, the scheme provides a single shared entrance while otherwise fully separating the two households, and includes two built-in garages. The entrance and garages are located on the west-facing street, and a central hall distributes access to each unit. Each household is organized around a living room that opens onto the garden and takes advantage of the roof slope to define the interior volume. The exterior is expressed as a large mono-pitched roof, with eaves and ceilings finished in solid Nishikawa-sourced hinoki (Japanese cypress) boards.

Located within a north‑facing residential enclave where, due to constraints imposed by an elevated railway, gardens are located to the north and buildings are set toward the south, the clients requested a replacement dwelling that would be bright and warm. The site measures approximately 30 tsubo (about 99 m²) and, with a floor area ratio (FAR) of 80%, private spaces are arranged efficiently to create generous public areas. To respond to the close proximity of neighboring houses, the design incorporates clerestory windows, skylights and vertical slatted screens to admit soft, diffuse daylight. A simple custom kitchen was fabricated through a collaborative effort between the owner and the furniture maker’s son.

A residence conceived in response to the incongruous presence of garages in suburban neighborhoods. On an elongated site with a 9‑meter frontage, the house, planting, and garage are arranged in parallel bands, and the spatial progression is articulated in successive stages to respond to the site’s depth and level changes. The street‑facing side is composed of low‑volume private rooms to moderate scale, with a large, open family space sited toward the rear. The garage is covered by a pergola that, as vegetation matures, will form a green façade and introduce a new expression to the streetscape.

A residence situated on a high point within a newly developed housing area. The project was prompted by the client’s desire to brew coffee and entertain guests in a museum-like environment. To capture panoramic mountain views to the north and south, the design organizes a tall, tubular primary volume and introduces changes in floor level to expand sightlines and generate spatial variation. The entry is enlivened by a top light whose illumination alters the space’s expression, and the wet areas are finished in white to evoke a sense of the extraordinary. The house offers a place to welcome guests while savoring quiet moments and abundant nature.

Set within a quiet villa enclave in Karuizawa, this residence was conceived for a retired couple and their cherished cat. Sited to embrace a richly natural environment—where the murmur of a stream and the whisper of trees are integral—the architecture is deliberately restrained in scale and expression so as not to dominate the landscape. The approach, which crosses a bridge en route to the entrance, functions as an intentional sequence of evolving views. Seasonal vistas framed by the windows and the subtle interplay of light and shadow impart a calm, poignant quality to daily life.

A residence for a family of three—a couple in their thirties and their son. The design capitalizes on a wooded site with views of Mount Asama to the north, employing a spatial organization that integrates interior and exterior. Service areas (wet rooms) are arranged to face the south and a small inner courtyard to ensure a bright, well-ventilated environment. The Japanese-style room, intended to accommodate tea gatherings and overnight guests, is separated from the living/dining/kitchen area and located adjacent to the service zones. A second-floor study is conceived as a family space for enjoying the views, realizing a home that embraces life in close relationship with nature.