Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, is no stranger to a snow-covered, harsh climate in winter with temperatures often dipping below -30C degrees. Yet in summer, even in the midst of heatwaves on Japan’s mainland, Hokkaido often remains a mild maximum of 27C degrees with little humidity, allowing for a suitable climate for agriculture and farming across the island’s expansive lands. 

Hokkaido’s architectural vernacular reflects it’s climate-led topology — buildings were originally constructed utilising the islands abundant timber supply, then with the advancement of industrial techniques, it become more common for “triangular roof houses” known as sankakuyane jūtaku to be built with concrete masonry unit (CMU) walls and simple triangular roofs to accommodate heavy snowfall. 

Tokyo-based architecture practice Florian Busch Architects latest project sees a residential build conceptually likened to a plant —  one that evolves with its surrounding environment — and being the practice’s first building to generate more energy than it consumes. House W in Nakafurano is nestled on the western edge of the island’s Furano Plateau, ‘an area renowned for its harsh winters and beautiful summers.’ Florian Busch Architects designed the house around the client’s request of creating a timber family home in the countryside and ambitiously building it as a Zero Energy house. Designed with a steeply-pitched roof to facilitate snow shedding and a solar skin composed of 56 photovoltaic panels (23 kW capacity), the result exceeds the net-zero goal: House W produces nearly twice the energy it consumes annually.

The architect’s approached the design by starting with a simple, compact form reminiscent of a vernacular barn. Then, ‘breaking the compact volume into two and rotating each of them so that the short ends of the elongated volumes perfectly face the east and northwest mountains opens up an interstitial space,’ they explain. This interstitial space features the house’s main window openings, with floor-to-ceiling glass panels supported by timber framing, flooding natural light throughout the central interior. In addition, ‘it plays a key role in regulating the overall climate of the house,’ they add.

Japan-based Champ Editor Joanna Kawecki spoke with Florian Busch Architects on the build, and the project’s key question: Is relocating to the countryside a viable path to a sustainable future?

ALA CHAMP: Can you detail a bit more about the site’s remote environment?

FLORIAN BUSCH ARCHITECTS: The project is located on the western edge of the Furano Plateau in Hokkaido, Japan—an area renowned for its harsh winters and beautiful summers. The site lies ‘in the open’. Rather than evoking the romantic notion of an idyllic rural landscape, it is situated amid active agricultural production. The immediate surroundings include rice paddies, fields, roads, and power lines. The distant mountain ranges that define the Furano Plateau create a dramatic but far-off backdrop.

What was the initial brief provided by the clients when they approached you for the project?

In keeping with the rural context of their site, the clients envisioned a home that reflected the simplicity and functionality of traditional agricultural structures. They sought a design that would support sustainable living, inspired by the region’s agricultural heritage. Beyond a simple house for a small family, their vision centred on creating a Zero Energy House in the countryside. Despite — or perhaps because of — the technological requirements inevitably shaping the design process, we aimed for an architecture that, like a plant, would actively engage with its surroundings, adapt to the environment, and make use of what was available.

When viewing the site, what were your initial priorities or thoughts for the structure?

The site offered excellent conditions for harnessing energy, but its exposure made it less than ideal for a private home. Beyond the ambitious goal of achieving net-zero energy, the greatest challenge was striking a balance: capturing the stunning views while ensuring privacy and selecting specific elements of the context to highlight. Reading the site in the context of the brief, we identified key opportunities:

• Sun: The flat, open plateau provides an ideal condition for harvesting solar energy.
• Water: A natural water source with consistent year-round flow and temperature enables geothermal energy use for heating and hot water.
• Views: The panoramic mountain landscape offers a strong visual connection to the broader environment. The site presents a threefold panorama:
• To the east: the expansive Tokachi mountain range
• To the south: Mt. Furano-Nishi and the Furano ski area
• To the west: a gentler, closer hilly terrain

The design began with a compact volume, inspired by the simplicity of a farmer’s barn. As the concept evolved, we moved away from a single mass and instead broke the building into two rotated volumes —facing east and northwest — to frame optimal views. The resulting gap between the two creates a third view corridor to the southwest. This interstitial space plays a vital role in climate regulation and circulation. 

What are the main materials you used, and why?

Referencing the archetypal farmer’s barn, timber was a natural choice for the structure. The design follows the logic of traditional Japanese timber frame construction. As a renewable resource, wood aligned with the project’s environmental goals.

Since solar energy was essential to achieving net-zero, selecting the appropriate photovoltaic technology was critical. Rather than applying solar panels as an afterthought, the cladding — the “solar skin” — became a key design driver.

This exterior skin is continuous, hard, and dark. Yet at the east and west ends — and most notably at the central break — it opens to reveal a soft, luminous interior with exposed wood and vibrant surfaces that reflect the surrounding seasonal changes.

What type of site and seasonality analysis did you conduct?

We conducted a comprehensive analysis of solar angles and wind patterns throughout the year. The design incorporates a central glazed zone fitted with adjustable louvers. This system maximises solar gain in winter and minimises overheating in summer, ensuring seasonal comfort and energy efficiency.

With heavy snow in the region, how did you approach the design for the structure and roofing to withdraw heavy weights?

The design features a steeply pitched roof to facilitate snow shedding. The structure is engineered to withstand heavy snow loads, ensuring safety and stability throughout the winter. The south-facing roof maintains a steep enough angle to remain snow-free and keep the solar skin functional year-round.

Located in a suburban yet remote area, were there any off-grid sustainable utilities integrated in the house?

While the house remains connected to the grid, this connection primarily serves to return surplus electricity. The result exceeds the net-zero goal: with a solar skin composed of 56 photovoltaic panels (23 kW capacity), House W produces nearly twice the energy it consumes annually. For heating and hot water, the house uses a nearby groundwater source, which maintains a stable temperature year-round—a fact confirmed by a year-long monitoring period. A heat pump taps into this source to supply underfloor heating and domestic hot water. The system is optimized for energy independence, using the grid only as a backup and for feeding excess power back into the network.

What were the main constraints or challenges during this project?

In addition to the challenges already mentioned — site conditions and the net-zero goal — a significant obstacle was the volatility of the construction market. Initially, we considered phasing construction to accommodate budget fluctuations, and this strategy ultimately influenced the building’s layout.

Despite the project’s specificity, it addresses a broader question: Is relocating to the countryside a viable path to a sustainable future?

While urban densification remains the most efficient strategy for reducing humanity’s carbon footprint, the notion that 70% of us will soon inhabit only 1% of the Earth’s land mass raises concerns — both ecological and social. Seeking the countryside makes sense, but only if it doesn’t increase our per capita carbon footprint. The key lies in how we engage with, not exploit, the natural environment.

The countryside’s openness offers a testing ground for innovation. Like the city in the past, it is becoming a catalyst for change. Unlike the earlier urban migration, which often severed ties with nature, this new movement allows reconnection with the environment—enabled by technology’s speed and reach. By integrating with its surroundings and generating more energy than it consumes, House W serves as a proof of concept for an energy-positive future.

For more global architecture, click here

Text: Joanna Kawecki
Images: As credited © Florian Busch Architects