Villa A

Villa A
© Kenya Chiba

Villa A

teamSTAR

ARCHITECTS
teamSTAR

MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
EM design

MAIN ARCHITECTS
Miki Okuno

MANAGEMENT
Yamada Studio, Shinichiro Yamada

ASSISTANT DESIGNER
Kohki Yanase

SUPPORT
adLb, Koichi Eguchi

LIGHTING DESIGN
Plus y

DIRECTOR
Eitaro Satake

MAIN ARCHITECT
Moo-Flat design

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS
soaps

PHOTOGRAPHS
Kenya Chiba

AREA
385 m²

YEAR
2023

LOCATION
Yokosuka, Japan

CATEGORY
Houses

The villa—named for its location on Akiya Beach—commands a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean near the town of Hayama, the birthplace of Japanese yachting culture.

Villa A
© Kenya Chiba
Villa A
© Kenya Chiba

Befitting this stunning natural environment, the villa’s design seeks a sculpturesque form, symbolized by the large vaulted roof and its series of arches that resemble white, rolling ocean waves.

Though the site is located on the slope of a southwest-facing hillside, the roof is oriented westward toward Mt. Fuji.

Villa A
© Kenya Chiba
Villa A
© Kenya Chiba

The presence of the ocean can be felt everywhere in the building, and the design includes elements that allow for a range of distinct ocean views.

The basement-level entrance hall calls to mind the ocean floor, with a white spiral staircase that evokes the image of a spiral seashell rising from the depths toward the surface. From the top of the stairs, a striking view of the Pacific Ocean unfurls.

Villa A
© Kenya Chiba
Villa A
© Kenya Chiba

The building’s configuration conforms to the elevation differences inherent to the site, evidenced by the step-like gradation of the vaulted roof’s arches.

In an effort to minimize effects on the environment, the level of the floor was made to follow the site’s natural slope, reducing the amount of soil needing to be removed and carried out.

Villa A
© Kenya Chiba
Villa A
© Kenya Chiba

This design gives rise to a myriad of interior vantage points, with the entrance, living room, dining room, loft area, and well-equipped kitchen, each offering a unique ocean view from its elevation.

Meanwhile, the emerald green floor evokes the colorful waters of reefs and shallows, and the color scheme on the main level gives the impression one is sailing on a yacht.

Villa A
© Kenya Chiba
Villa A
© Kenya Chiba

The curved lines of the vaulted roof create the illusion of expansiveness in the interior space. While the building structure is mainly reinforced concrete, the roof is a wooden structure consisting of a series of continuous arches built with 7m×900mm cross-laminated timber panels—a design that required extremely precise planning and construction techniques to implement.

Additionally, the distinctive, large sash windows at the corners of the living room create a seamless continuity between the interior and exterior when opened, endowing the interior space with an outdoor ambiance.

Villa A
© Kenya Chiba
Villa A
© Kenya Chiba

The terrace features an infinity pool, wood-burning sauna, and outdoor kitchen, as well as a jacuzzi that is easily accessible from outside—elements designed to create the ideal setting for entertaining friends and family.

The result is an oceanfront villa with the amenities of a resort—a villa that perfectly suits a laid-back lifestyle and provides a deep connection to the blue waters at its doorstep.

Villa A
© Kenya Chiba


Villa A
© Kenya Chiba
Villa A
© Kenya Chiba
Villa A
© Kenya Chiba
Villa A
© Kenya Chiba
Villa A
© Kenya Chiba
Villa A
© Kenya Chiba
Villa A
© Kenya Chiba


Villa A
Villa A


Villa A
South Elevation
Villa A
West Elevation


Villa A
Plan - Basement 01 Floor
Villa A
Plan - 1st Floor
Villa A
Plan - 2nd Floor
Villa A
Plan - Roof


Villa A
Diagram