A crescent-shaped volume will enclose this holiday home, which architecture studio Snøhetta has designed for hospitality brand Not A Hotel in a ski resort on Hokkaido Island, Japan.
Proposed for a site within Rusutsu Resort on the foothills of Mount Yōtei, Not A Hotel Rusutsu will have a "clean, minimal form" that draws on the surrounding topography, Snøhetta said.
"Our approach always has a fundamental connection to nature, striving to create a profound unity between our surroundings and design," said managing director of Snøhetta Asia Richard Wood.
"For this project, we are inspired by the extraordinary natural setting, offering visitors a unique experience at the foothills of the majestic Mount Yōtei," he continued.
Once complete, Not A Hotel Rusutsu will have a crescent-shaped form that dips at the centre and encompasses 1,200 square metres. Its lower portion will be sitting partially below ground.
The curved edges of the upper floor will be cantilevered, creating sheltered outdoor spaces on either end, including a space for deck chairs overlooking an outdoor bath.
Inside, the home's lowest level will contain a gym and sauna while the floor above houses a lounge, kitchen and dining area, alongside bedrooms and a study.
Where the building dips at its centre will be a courtyard-like space with a sunken seating area, designed to function as its social heart.
The exterior will be lined in locally sourced stone and blackened wood intended to complement the landscape, while large expanses of glass will help to connect occupants to their surroundings.
This natural material palette will continue inside, with the addition of warmer woods and green-toned furnishings that add warmth to the living spaces.
"The use of natural and local materials like stone and wood further embodies this project's holistic approach to human well-being and harmony with nature," said Snøhetta's lead interior architect Ana Castaingts.
Elsewhere in Japan, architect Sou Fujimoto is also designing a holiday home for Not A Hotel. The disc-shaped villa will have a swooping green roof and is set to open on Ishigaki Island later this year.
Another studio collaborating with the hospitality brand is BIG, which is designing a trio of holiday villas it has designed for Sagishima Island.