A Platform for Living
Setsumasa and Mami Kobayashi’s weekend retreat, two and a half hours northwest of Tokyo, is “an arresting concept,” photographer Dean Kaufman says, who documented the singular refuge in the Chichibu mountain range. “It’s finely balanced between rustic camping and feeling like the Farnsworth House.”
Designed by Shin Ohori of General Design Co., the structure—Setsumasa bristles at the word “house,” since his desire was for something that “was not a residence”—and its wooded surroundings serve as a testing ground for the Kobayashis, who design outdoor clothing and gear (as well as many other products) for their company, .......Research. The shelter is constructed from locally harvested larch wood and removable fiberplastic walls and is crowned with two yellow dome tents used as year-round bedrooms.
Still, this is no primitive lean-to. There’s electricity, hot water, and a kitchen—not to mention iPads, Internet, and a clawfoot tub. By day, the couple trims trees and chops firewood. At night, they sit around a campfire and eat Japanese curry, listen to Phish, and balance their laptops on their knees. This is what a modern back-to-the-land effort looks like.
For more images of the project, please view the slideshow.
Don't miss a word of Dwell! Download our FREE app from iTunes, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!
Article
-
Platform 21's Repair Manifesto
Designers talk a lot about extending product lifecycles, but most often in terms of creating new objects with exceptional longevity. Extending the lifecycle of existing objects is a different…
Products
-
Barcelona Platform Bed
Dramatic solid Mahogany platform bed with subtle, unique detailing. Designed for use with a mattress alone, the upholstered padded deck provides proper mattress support. Tiger mahogany and espresso…
-
Solide Platform Bed
Our solid Mahogany platform bed is simple, sturdy and modern. Unique joinery and large-scale feet provide a solid base. Upholstered deck is padded for comfort and proper mattress support. Leather…
-
Zen Platform Bed
Our classic Japanese style platform bed is elegantly constructed of wide, solid Mahogany planks. Fully upholstered deck insures comfort and proper mattress support. Finishes accentuating the…
Advertising
Advertising
Advertising
Related Products
-
Barcelona Platform Bed
Dramatic solid Mahogany platform bed with…
-
Solide Platform Bed
Our solid Mahogany platform bed is simple…
-
Zen Platform Bed
Our classic Japanese style platform…
Latest
-
05.20
ICFF 2012: New from Black + Blum
Two products we really loved from the ICFF show floor came…
-
05.18
ICFF 2012: Axor Bouroullec Line
Today, bathroom fixtures brand Axor celebrated its North…
-
05.18
Friday Finds 05.18.12
Wrap up the week with our roundup of architecture, art, and…
Follow
Dwell
Reloading tweets…
Did I read wrong, or is there job to test camping equipment? That has dream job written all over it.
I really enjoyed reading this article. I couldn't help thinking about how the radiation from Fukushima is spilling over into this region & all of the dreadful consequences from the nuclear power plants that is almost not heard in any mainstream media outlet. The silence is deafening. I also really like this idea of the "anti-house", the minimalism & living lightly on the land in a really beautiful manner. It seems delightful & respectful! The yellow tents remind me of North American Teepee's, which are the original American architecture that doesn't damage its surroundings. Not so sure about the iPad & wi-fi connections. Gratuitous homage to our rabid consumer culture doesn't seem quite fitting with the general surroundings. Wouldn't it be nicer to talk to the person sitting in front of you, or making music rather than pushing around pixels on a screen? Cheers, Duncan
Lovely project - embodies the joy of living. The orange tents resemble the canopies of the birch trees - this house is so nicely integrated in it's environment.
Kawakami village is the highest village in apan at 1500 meters above sea level. I went snowshoe hiking with the Kobayashi's and their dog Goo last March. http://fireside-essay.jp/modules/staffblog/category/outdoor The radiation levels are low here in Nagano basically normal. Note your Kawakami map link puts the location several hundred kilometers to the west of the actual location.
It's a really beautiful place ,, I hope to visit it ,, how can I contact with this place please ?
Just beautiful. I love it. More people should live this way.
@Duncan- Sure it's annoying to think that we should want WiFi connectivity in the beautiful and deep outdoors. But check it out- with a little bit of connectivity, suddenly you can be getting out-of-office work done while there, extending your stays. That's a no-brainer tradeoff! Take the products you're testing out there for the entire week and not fall out of touch with the client- super nice.
sometimes you just want to be there
Amazing. Love the extension to the outdoors with the large fiberglass panels- they are light enough to move it seems-quite practical.
looks great! I will say about the bath though that I don't consider a traditional claw foot tub to be a luxury compared to the wonderful wood fired bathtubs available in Japan. Real luxury is not having to always add hot water to keep the bath warm. Real luxury is a traditional Japanese bath. I know, I have one ;-)
RSS Feed
Add a Comment