Ice and Fire

Chalet for ABD Architecture LLC

The site of this project faces directly the unmistakable local volcano Mt Yotei. Named Fire and Ice Chalet, this concept is inspired by this fire burning volcano covered with snow in winter and represents the contrast between Northern Japan's harsh winter and the warmth and comfort expected in ski resort's chalets. The shape of the roof and the side walls reproduces the image of two human hands joined at their fingers. The design captures the feeling of sipping on a hot cocoa on a comfortable sofa next to a wood burning fireplace while enjoying the view of the snow-blanketed volcano.

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Ice and Fire by Franck Giral

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Chalet by Franck Giral

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Franck Giral Ice and Fire

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Franck Giral Chalet

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Ice and Fire Chalet Press Releases

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Ice and Fire Chalet Media Articles

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Unique Properties

Ice and Fire symbolize the beautiful local volcano Mt Yotei when it is covered with snow in winter and represents the contrast between harsh winter of Niseko and the warmth and comfort expected in ski resort's chalets. The dark, cold metal cladding protects the building from the cold weather, with standing seams dropping from the roof like icicles, while the light tone of natural cedar and oak wood and the fireplace at the core of the living area bring the cozy warmth to the interior.

Tags

Holiday house, Niseko, ski resort, concept design, architectural design

Production Technology

Considering the long and narrow site and no fences allowed, we maintained the privacy on the street side by creating balconies, cutting the roof with a slight angle, and setting back the building enough to add parking space. We also set back the building on each side for privacy and snow clearing, with small windows and louvers on the side walls. This results in a linear layout that perfectly captures Mt Yotei views from the second floor, while keeping privacy from the neighbors.

Design Challenge

The developer requested a design proposal for a rental chalet on the smaller plots on the development, with a reasonable construction price and a design appealing to land buyers. The difficulty of the design came from the narrowness of the site and the neighbors on all sides except the street side. The design had to capture the view of the local volcano Mt Yotei.

Project Duration

The site belongs to the Odin Hills development, a 92-plot land development with a 5-star hotel with onsen amenity in the international ski resort Niseko, in Hokkaido, Japan.

Operation Flow

The entry of the house is situated in the middle of the front facade for maximum visibility, while the garage is set back and under the balcony to be less prominent. The 1st floor comprises the garage, the service areas and 2 bedrooms, while the 2nd floor contains the living room, a dining-kitchen, a Japanese bath and the master bedroom. An open staircase that sits between the kitchen/dining and the living room connects both levels.

Research

For this project, we wanted to have a full understanding of the site's environment. For this we re-modeled entirely the 92-plot land development in 3D, with topography, trees, sidewalk, streetlights... We also included a 3D model of the region including the local volcano from Google Earth for the accuracy of views. The final renderings are the product of a streamlined process involving BIM architectural software, rendering software, presentation software and post-processing.

Inspiration

The site belongs to a 92-plot land development with a 5-star hotel with onsen amenity in the international ski resort Niseko, in Hokkaido, Japan. The developer requested a design proposal for a rental chalet on the smaller plots on the development, with a reasonable construction price and a design appealing to land buyers. The design captures the feeling of sipping on a marshmallow covered hot cocoa while sitting on in a comfortable sofa and enjoying the view of the snow-covered volcano.

Project Overview

Ice and Fire Chalet has been a Silver winner in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design award category in the year 2022 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.

Image Credits

For design images and photos please credit Franck Giral.

Silver Recognition

Franck Giral was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2023, a testament to excellence of their work Ice and Fire Chalet.

Franck Giral Press Releases

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Introducing the Ice and Fire Chalet: A Stunning Concept Design in Niseko, Japan

Franck Giral unveils the Ice and Fire Chalet, a unique concept design capturing the essence of Niseko's ski resort charm

Franck Giral Newsroom

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