Introducing Forest Living, a custom-built home example by KICHI ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, a Architect / Design office in 4-6-3 Kenkyu Gakuen, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan

"Forest Living," sited in a deep forest, is a single-story residence that engages with nature in a calm and measured manner. Surrounded by abundant trees, it is a home designed to receive a quiet way of life, set apart from the bustle of everyday living.

The exterior cladding employs yakisugi, the traditional Japanese charred cedar technique. This method of finishing cedar boards by controlled charring yields a distinctive, richly textured appearance and has long been valued for its durability. The dark, subdued exterior allows the building to blend naturally into the forest landscape.

Organized on a single level, the plan is arranged so that every room has views of the woodland. The expansive greenery visible through the windows is present from anywhere in the house, creating a space in which the forest is constantly felt.