Honorable Mention of the International Architecture & Design Awards 2026
The Pentagon Niseko
Architecture
Concept / Professional Category
Architect / Designer:
Franck Giral
Studio:
ABD Architecture LLC
Design Team:
Pierre Biard, Architect
Country:
Japan
The project is located within Odin Hills, a premium 92-plot residential enclave in Niseko, Hokkaido, offering shared onsen and pool amenities. Just five minutes from the Hanazono ski slopes, the site combines immediate access to winter recreation with a quiet setting and panoramic views toward Mount Yotei.
Conceived as a contemporary alpine residence, the architecture responds directly to its climate, surroundings, and distant vistas. Rather than a conventional orthogonal layout, the building adopts a pentagonal plan that simultaneously orients the interior toward Mount Yotei and the town of Kutchan while maintaining privacy and compact circulation. The geometry is expressed both horizontally through the balcony and cantilevered roof, and vertically through a continuous metal outline framing the glazed upper façade.
A central stair placed in the rear corner of the polygon creates efficient planning and visual connections between floors. The entry porch offers sheltered transition from snow to interior. The ground floor supports ski-lifestyle practicality with a garage including ski racks, genkan storage, laundry, multipurpose room, shared bathroom, and two bedrooms.
The upper floor forms the primary living level, organized into three zones. The master suite faces Mount Yotei and includes a walk-in closet, powder room, and ensuite bath separated by a glazed partition. Opposite, the living-dining-kitchen area enjoys wide views and abundant daylight, while a media room provides flexibility. A continuous balcony links the main spaces to the landscape.
Between them, a traditional tiled Japanese bath faces a framed mountain view, creating a quiet restorative retreat after skiing.
The architecture is vertically stratified: a grounded lower level protects against Niseko’s severe winters, while a lighter upper volume projects outward to engage the landscape. Deep eaves and calibrated openings manage snow and seasonal solar gain. Light-toned local cedar cladding and recycled timber louvers contrast with black metal accents above a durable black stucco base, expressing both warmth and permanence in the alpine environment.
ABD Architecture LLC
ABD Architecture LLC, an award-winning international architectural design firm headquartered in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, stands as a beacon of innovation under the visionary leadership of its founder—a French civil and structural engineer turned architect with over 15 years of invaluable experience in construction projects and developments in Japan, particularly in internationally acclaimed ski resorts like Niseko.
The firm’s team comprises bilingual and seasoned professionals, including architects, engineers, PMP-certified project managers, and interior designers. Specializing in Project Management, Master Planning, and Architectural Design, ABD Architecture LLC is dedicated to delivering excellence across a spectrum of construction projects throughout Japan.
Catering to an esteemed international clientele, ABD Architecture LLC takes pride in its specialization in high-end ski properties, resort developments, master planning, and the creation of serene onsen, Japanese hot sprin
