GONDOLA HOUSE

Design Team：Furuya Design
Size：173.85 m²   
Location：Nozawa Onsen, Japan

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Feature：

Project - Ancient Onsen Lodge Gains Contemporary Addition in Snowy Japanese Village：Architectural firm Furuya Design has completed a striking new extension to an existing lodge in the hot spring village of Nozawa Onsen, paying homage to the original 1969 building by acclaimed architect Takamasa Yoshizaka while carving its own contemporary identity. Dubbed the "Gondola House", the brilliant white addition contrasts with Yoshizaka's iconic green-roofed lodge that locals affectionately refer to as the "Avocado House". While adopting a similar sculptural form, the crisp white exterior walls allow the new volumes to blend seamlessly into the snow-covered landscape during winter months. "The architecture aims to resonate with the intimacy of Yoshizaka's design, echoing it in form while offering a complementary counterpoint through materiality," explained Furutani Design founder Shunichi Furutani. "The subsidiary relationship is imagined like the main and sub-trunks of a bonsai tree." Optimized for reducing snow loads, the undulating roof form sheds accumulated snow while braced openings are a nod to the original lodge. Inside, the upper level contains open living spaces for up to seven guests, fostering a "gondola-like" experience that connects visitors to Nozawa's culture and scenery.

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Design Team - Founded in 2009 and helmed by principal Shunichi Furuya, Furuya Design is an acclaimed Tokyo-based architecture and landscape design firm. With a philosophy rooted in fostering intimate connections between built and natural environments, the practice has garnered numerous accolades for its thoughtful, contextual designs. Furuya's multidisciplinary approach seamlessly integrates architecture, interiors, landscaping and furniture design. Key works like the Black Dragon Brewery, Tagayasu Residence, and Suisha House & Office exemplify the firm's mastery in crafting spaces that embrace their surroundings through sensitive massing, materiality and verdant plantings. The firm's diverse portfolio showcases an expertise in residential, commercial, hospitality and public projects unified by a reverence for place and heritage. With award-wins including the Japan Space Design Award and JIA Excellent Design Selection, Furuya Design continues to push boundaries while evoking a profound sense of belonging. Led today by Furuya alongside associates like Masato Aki and Kayoko Toshima, the practice advances its pursuit of "cultivating architecture like nurturing plants" through each meticulously-conceived design.