From Isolation to Integration by Nendo

February 7, 2025

From Isolation to Integration by Nendo

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Nendo has designed a weekend home for a family of four in Japan that redefines connection through distinct, nature-inspired architectural fragments.

In the serene hills of Karuizawa, Japan, stands a house that balances personal isolation and family togetherness, all while expressing the language of nature. Tokyo-based firm Nendo created the ‘Hand-in-Hand House’, a weekend abode for a family of four: a couple and their two young children. Architectural innovation and emotional connection are here presented in a new way, with modern living integrated into nature.

A Symphony of Solitude and Togetherness

Set on a sprawling 5,800㎡ site amidst lush greenery, the design centres around six compact cottages of approximately 20㎡ each. These are not mere structures but fragments of a harmonious whole, positioned to slightly face different directions. A connecting terrace unfurls over the hilly terrain, creating an elevated sense of openness that embraces the site’s natural topography and offers sweeping views of Mt. Asama.

Every cottage has a specific function: the living room, dining room, kitchen, and bedrooms are divided into these modular units. The roofs—with different heights—slightly “hold hands,” forming a metaphoric and actual bond. Such an arrangement maintains a balance of individuality and community in which every family member’s time and space are accounted for without diminishing the spirit of being together.

As described by Oki Sato, the founder of Nendo, “The design encompasses a family grasping hands, where separate units express each person’s identity as they unite beneath a common canopy.” The fragmented structure not only creates a unifying sense of togetherness but also minimizes the visual mass, allowing the architecture to seamlessly merge with the surrounding forest.

An Organic Dialogue with Nature

The Hand-in-Hand House is deeply rooted in its context. The six cottages are delicately nestled within the wooded site, their orientations aligning with the natural flow of the landscape. By subtly varying the roof heights and directions, Nendo ensures the structures appear as though they’ve grown out of the earth itself, echoing the organic irregularities of the terrain.

The terrace, which acts as a spine connecting the cottages, extends outward, creating transitional spaces between the interior and exterior. It invites the surrounding nature in—birch trees and ferns casting shifting shadows—while simultaneously providing an elevated platform to admire the scenery. This dialogue between architecture and environment is pivotal, as the family’s retreat becomes a space to reconnect not just with one another but also with the natural world.

Harmony in Restraint: Design that Speaks Volumes

The minimalist aesthetic of the Hand-in-Hand House is a hallmark of Nendo’s design philosophy. Light-toned wood panels, expansive glass windows, and soft curves dominate the architectural language, creating an airy and unobtrusive presence. The interior spaces are thoughtfully designed to maximise light and frame views, further blurring the boundaries between indoors and outdoors.

The roof form—perhaps the most dramatic element—creates a symbolic and physical link between the cottages. Recalling the gesture of holding hands, the swooping eaves overlap tenderly, forming sheltered walkways and shaded zones. This play of forms not only enhances the spatial experience but also reinforces the theme of family ties.

Exploring Relationships Between Space and Connection

Although the Hand-in-Hand House effectively disrupts the traditional understanding of residential buildings, it also compels us to consider how we live in space. By disassembling the concept of one house into individual pieces, Nendo has created a home that is as much about disconnection as it is about union.

Fundamentally, the project highlights the changing dynamics of modern family life. It values individuality but encourages shared experiences, reminding us that harmony lies in balance. The contrast between modularity and unity rings so true, particularly in an age where more and more of our lives are shaped by the requirement for personal space.

However the design’s dependence on nature is questionable regarding sustainability. While the elegant placement of architecture in the landscape is to be appreciated, it serves to point up the vulnerability of such landscapes. As architecture pursues more contact with nature, designs like the Hand-in-Hand House engender serious questions about maintaining such environments while conceptualizing differently within them.

A Gesture of Belonging

Nendo’s Hand-in-Hand House is not only a weekend getaway—it’s a celebration of the subtle art of combining individuality and unity. By interweaving modular buildings under a single “gestural” roof, the project reinterprets domestic environments in harmony with nature. While it honours family ties and ecological conversation, it also encourages us to reflect on the future of residential architecture in ecologically responsive settings. As Oki Sato so aptly describes, “This house is a metaphor for human connection, with architecture becoming the thread that ties us to one another and to our surroundings.