Villa Nagiso Renovation

Villa Nagiso Renovation 

OTAA.llc

Villa Nagiso Renovation
© Takashi Uemura

ARCHITECTS
Otaa.llc

LEAD ARCHITECT
Yutaro Ohta

FORTIFICATION
Shisui Equipment

CARPENTER
Mitsuishi Building

DESIGN TEAM
Yutaro Ohta, Genya Nakayasu, Yuki Otsuka

INTERIOR WORK
Katsuno Wood

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Yoshimura Electric

DIY COOPERATION 1
Uruha Tamura, Kouta Yoshioka, Keito Ueno, Mitsuki Kotoo

DIY COOPERATION 2
Chubu University, Musashino Art University, Shibaura Institute Of Technology, Volunteers' Association

PHOTOGRAPHS
Takashi Uemura

AREA
62 M²

YEAR
2025

LOCATION
Nagiso, Japan

CATEGORY
Lodging, Renovation

Villa Nagiso Renovation
© Takashi Uemura

CULTIVATING THE COUNTRYSIDE

The town of Nagiso in Nagano Prefecture, where the site is located, is a place that even Japanese people rarely hear about.

Most of the land is surrounded by forest, and the area is home to the "Kiso Hinoki" brand of wood, which has become the identity of the community through the diverse traditional craft skills of its artisans, such as woodworking and hinokasa (hinoki hats).

Villa Nagiso Renovation
© Takashi Uemura
Villa Nagiso Renovation
© Takashi Uemura

This place, which has been crowded with tourists mainly from overseas in recent years, is also the hometown of my grandparents.

With its declining and aging population, Nagiso town is an advanced region, so to speak, and it is a microcosm of Japan's future.

Villa Nagiso Renovation
© Takashi Uemura
Villa Nagiso Renovation
© Takashi Uemura

I felt that putting down roots in this place and continuing to work as an architect would provide a hint for the future of architecture.

Therefore, we decided to purchase the land and buildings, renovate them, and plan, design, construct, and operate a hotel for rent.

Villa Nagiso Renovation
© Takashi Uemura
Villa Nagiso Renovation
© Takashi Uemura

First, in order to open the space to the rich tea plantation and mountain scenery, wooden fixed sashes were replaced.

In addition, all of the characteristic atrium space was painted silver, transforming the former wooden hut into a minimalist and unique space.

Villa Nagiso Renovation
© Takashi Uemura
Villa Nagiso Renovation
© Takashi Uemura
Villa Nagiso Renovation
© Takashi Uemura

For the Japanese-style room, the old tatami mats were removed and replaced with "Kiso hinoki bark board," a flooring material developed jointly with Katsuno Lumber, a local forestry and lumber company in Minami-Kiso.

This flooring material is a luxurious strand board that utilizes the bark of the Kiso hinoki tree.

During the construction, we invited fragrance designer Megumi Fukatsu to create an original fragrance using Kiso Hinoki together with the students who were responsible for the construction.

Villa Nagiso Renovation
© Takashi Uemura
Villa Nagiso Renovation
© Takashi Uemura
Villa Nagiso Renovation
© Takashi Uemura

We think of architecture in terms of its component parts and design, even the interior elements that are invisible to the eye.

The cups used in the hotel were also created using the Nagiso roroku technique to create a special piece with an original design. Through DIY and workshops, this architecture was designed not from a big plan, but as a series of small actions.

The world we will create in the future may be shaped by the accumulation of these small acts of craftsmanship.

Villa Nagiso Renovation
© Takashi Uemura


Villa Nagiso Renovation
© Takashi Uemura
Villa Nagiso Renovation
© Takashi Uemura
Villa Nagiso Renovation
© Takashi Uemura
Villa Nagiso Renovation
© Takashi Uemura


Villa Nagiso Renovation
Floor Plan and Elevation