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A compact timber home in Sapporo, where split-level living spaces offer changing views of the neighboring forest.
The owners of Morimado House spent almost two years searching for a site with architect Yosuke Tomiya. They eventually found a plot in a residential neighborhood in Sapporo, Japan, with natural woodland extending along its eastern edge. Completed in 2023, the 99.5-square-meter timber house opens toward those trees while protecting the family’s privacy from neighboring homes. Inside, staggered floors create a succession of places to enjoy the view, giving a relatively small house considerable variety.
A generous concrete-floored entrance accommodates a wood-burning stove and space to bring in firewood or tend to outdoor equipment. A turn toward the main living area keeps these rooms out of direct view from the doorstep. Beyond, the oak-floored sitting area sits a few steps below the kitchen and dining table, with an open-tread staircase rising alongside it. These shifts in height give different activities their own space while keeping family members within sight of one another. The forest remains visible through the windows as people move between levels.
Large windows and high openings bring daylight across the connected interior. White walls meet pale wood flooring and joinery, while slender stair railings leave the views through the house open. In the kitchen, three sliding panels conceal the rear storage and refrigerator when closed. The generous glazing is supported by a highly insulated building envelope designed for Hokkaido’s winters, with triple-glazed windows, heat-recovery ventilation, and solar panels contributing to the home’s energy performance.
Upstairs, a shared desk runs along the landing toward a deep, timber-lined window seat. Shelving above the opening follows the slope of the ceiling, and books fit into open cubbies beneath the bench. Beside it, the stairwell maintains a connection to the living spaces below. The seat itself has room to stretch out with a book, with the trees filling the window directly ahead.
Photography © Koji Sakai / Graytone Photographs.
