Situated on a gentle moss-covered slope in Karuizawa, facing southwest with a view of Mount Hanare, the cottage stands among Japanese maple and larch trees. Its charred wood exterior walls enclose one side of the rectangular volume, leaving the rest of the southwestern facade open, like the shape of the number six. A single shed roof is laid over the “six”, with a tilt that echoes the slope of the site.

The open part of the facade is glazed with a floor-to-ceiling window, that connects the double-height living room to the garden. An overhanging loft library overlooks the living room, enjoying the view of the garden and Mount Hanare far beyond. The stairs along the charred wood wall facing the living room lead to the enclosed area, which houses two bedrooms and a bathroom. Seen from the outside, the volume of this sleeping area resembles a treehouse, lifted in the air by V-shaped wooden pilotis. The space under the raised volume provides shelter and connects the gardens on both sides of the cottage.