Between Forest and Light

Residential Interior for MisoSoupDesign

Between Forest and Light is a four story residence organized to connect interior functions with the surrounding landscape. The layout arranges communal and private spaces vertically, allowing each floor to align with specific views and daylight conditions. Stone, wood, and glass define transitions between areas and regulate transparency. The design emphasizes spatial sequencing, visual framing, and light control to integrate exterior context into the living environment.

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Between Forest and Light by Daisuke Nagatomo and Minnie Jan

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Residential Interior by Daisuke Nagatomo and Minnie Jan

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Daisuke Nagatomo and Minnie Jan Between Forest and Light

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Daisuke Nagatomo and Minnie Jan Residential Interior

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Unique Properties

Between Forest and Light reinterprets vertical residential living as a layered landscape. Each floor offers a distinct relationship with nature through controlled transparency, framed views, and material variation. Curved stone walls, filtered glazing, and integrated lighting soften spatial transitions, creating a continuous yet diverse living experience that evolves from ground to top floor.

Tags

Residential interior, Vertical living, Natural light, Forest view, Material layering

Production Technology

The project integrates custom stone cladding, wood panel systems, and precision glass partitions to achieve seamless transitions between spaces. Indirect lighting, concealed mechanical systems, and bespoke furniture elements are carefully coordinated to maintain visual clarity. Natural materials were selected for durability, aging quality, and their ability to enhance light reflection and spatial depth.

Design Challenge

The primary challenge was designing a vertical residence that maintains spatial coherence while responding to varied programmatic needs across four levels. Another key challenge was balancing openness to the surrounding forest with privacy, environmental comfort, and structural constraints, while ensuring daylight penetration throughout the deep interior spaces.

Project Duration

Design 2020 - 2021 Construction 2021 - 2022 Completion 2022

Operation Flow

Daily movement unfolds vertically from public to private spaces. The ground floor connects communal living areas to the garden, while upper levels gradually shift toward more intimate functions. Visual connections between floors and outdoor views guide circulation, allowing residents to experience changing light conditions and forest scenery as part of everyday routines.

Research

This project investigates how vertical residential interiors can mediate the relationship between dense natural environments and contemporary domestic living. Through a four-story private residence, the design explores spatial sequencing, material articulation, and daylight modulation as tools to integrate forest landscapes into everyday life. The research focuses on how framed views, controlled transparency, and layered material systems influence occupants’ perception of space, privacy, and environmental continuity. By organizing programs vertically and calibrating light conditions on each level, the project proposes a residential model that balances openness and enclosure while enhancing long-term spatial comfort and sensory engagement with nature.

Inspiration

The project is inspired by the site’s hillside setting and dense greenery. Rather than treating nature as a backdrop, the design frames forest views as an integral spatial element. Light, shadow, and seasonal changes are incorporated into daily life, allowing residents to experience nature from multiple perspectives across different floors.

Project Overview

Between Forest and Light Residential Interior has been a Iron winner in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design award category in the year 2025 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.

Image Credits

For design images and photos please credit Daisuke Nagatomo and Minnie Jan.

Iron Recognition

Daisuke Nagatomo and Minnie Jan was recognized with the coveted Iron A' Design Award in 2026, a testament to excellence of their work Between Forest and Light Residential Interior .

Daisuke Nagatomo and Minnie Jan Press Releases

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