Kaku Place

Kaku Place was designed by Akasaka Shinichiro Atelier. To them, Kaku Place was, "Conceptualized as a stone marker in the majestic mountains surrounding Furano, it exudes a simple yet strong presence. Based on a cubical structure, the exterior architecture is articulated to reflect the individual dwelling units, showcasing activity both internally and externally.

Designed and constructed with concrete, brick and wood, these materials have a long history of manufacture and use in Hokkaido. They are brought together at important junctions of the building to highlight their strength, warmth and beauty. The comfortable and uncluttered interior spaces provide excellent functionality whilst showcasing large window views of the beautiful, organic and ever-changing scenery of Furano."

Architects Akasaka Shinichiro Atelier says of the design philosophy, "..Rather than imposing our own designs unilaterally, we think of clients as equal partners in the process of discussing requests and problems, which are then resolved through design and planning. While the end product of this process is a physical structure, we think of our fundamental role as designing human-to-human and human-to-environment relationships. Our goal is to create architecture whose meaning and purpose is derived through ongoing communication with clients.”

Ideally located in the centre of Kitanomine, Kaku Place is just steps from Route 800, the main east-west artery running the length of Kitanomine village. Within walking distance to the main Kitanomine gondola, it is also only a 10 minute walk across the Sorachi River to Furano city centre.