—Concept—
In recent years, Hakuba Village in Kitaazumi District, Nagano Prefecture, has seen an increase in inbound tourism, attracting many visitors—primarily for skiing and snowboarding—who view it as the “second Niseko.” Consequently, demand for lodging facilities
has risen, and this project involves the construction of an accommodation facility in Hakuba Village’s main area. Rather than developing a generic income-generating property, the project aims to create a high-quality, whole-building rental facility.
By targeting high-end, long-term stays, the design ensures a comfortable stay by incorporating insulation performance equal to or exceeding that of modern high-performance homes, thereby providing a comfortable winter stay in Hakuba.

—DesignConcept—
A key feature of the building is its exterior design, which resembles a large isosceles triangle. However, this shape was not chosen for aesthetic reasons, but rather to address snow accumulation and load-bearing issues during heavy winter snowfall.
The triangular design eliminates the need for snow removal, and the structure is designed to be strong enough to withstand being completely covered in snow, much like a traditional snow hut. By using wood as the structural material to minimize environmental impact and implementing a robust structural plan, we have created a spatial layout that fully utilizes the distinctive triangular structure.

—A-flame—
The structure features a wooden A-frame design. This choice was not merely aesthetic; the triangular shape was specifically chosen to address snow accumulation and load-bearing issues during heavy winter snowfalls, eliminating the need for snow removal. We adopted this wooden A-frame structure both to ensure the building could safely remain buried in snow—much like a traditional snow hut—and to promote Japan’s rich wooden architectural heritage.The use of a wooden frame made the structure lighter and allowed for construction by local carpenters specializing in timber architecture. By installing glass windows on the distinctive A-frame facade along the short sides—while leaving the long sides almost entirely windowless—we were able to highlight the unique spatial qualities of the A-frame design.

—Make Your Extended Stay Comfortable—
Hakuba currently enjoys very high inbound demand from Asia and Australia, with many visitors staying for extended periods ranging from several weeks to several months. To ensure a comfortable stay, Luna Chalet has achieved insulation performance equal to or exceeding that of high-performance homes, enabling a space with consistent temperatures throughout—achieved through underfloor heating rather than relying on multiple heating appliances.