A Natural Home Life Realized in Tokachi　Mr. and Mrs. A in Otofuke Town / Mizuno Construction

Living in a condominium in Sapporo, Mr. and Mrs. A began rethinking the kind of life they truly wanted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Rather than being surrounded by concrete in the city, we wanted to live closer to nature and enjoy handmade things in our everyday life. We hoped to create a home where the three of us could enjoy living together as a family.”

The place they chose was a quiet, tree-lined corner in the heart of Tokachi — the region they both call home.

Designed and built by Mizuno Construction in Otofuke Town, the house is wrapped in Japanese larch wood, blending naturally into its surroundings. In summer, the family enjoys making preserved foods, while winter brings the pleasure of cooking on their wood stove. It is a home designed for enjoying a slower, more natural way of life.

Highlights of the A Residence

• A unified exterior design connecting the home, carport, and fence
• Comfortable and reliable living with both air conditioner and a wood stove
• A simple single-story layout with smooth flow throughout the home

A Carefully Unified Design — Inside and Out

The home’s exterior features Mizuno Construction’s signature larch siding paired beautifully with a cast-iron chimney. Even with its strong use of wood, the house avoids a rustic “mountain cabin” look and instead feels refined and sophisticated.

“What makes it feel modern is the attention to detail,” explains Design Team Madoka Mizuno. “The rooflines are kept sharp, and the eaves and rain gutters are integrated seamlessly.”

The carport and storage shed were also built using the same larch wood, creating a unified design throughout the property.

The earthen-floored entryway flows seamlessly into the LDK beyond. The wall made of Sapporo soft stone at the center of the photo not only blocks the view from the entrance, but also serves as a fireproof wall for the wood stove positioned on the opposite side.

The exposed ceiling beams and flooring are, of course, also made from solid larch wood. “It feels soft even when walking barefoot without slippers,” says Mrs. A — one of her favorite features of the home.

The dining table and benches were also custom-made from Japanese larch wood.

At the back of the kitchen is a naturally cooled food storage space that uses outdoor air.

“It’s great for storing vegetables and homemade preserves,” says Mrs. A. “Right now we have fruit ground cherry liqueur, jam, and ginger preserved in honey. The stable temperature is perfect.”

Another advantage is that the storage space requires almost no electricity.

Enjoying a Relaxed Life with a Wood Stove

For the family, who envisioned a lifestyle close to nature, a wood stove was essential from the beginning.

“A wood stove is reliable even during disasters, and cooking with it is fun,” they explain. “The main heating comes from an underfloor air-conditioning system, so we only light the stove when we want to enjoy it.”

They chose a wood stove made by Danish company Morso, designed not only for heating but also for cooking. Since it is custom-made, they are currently using a temporary stove while waiting for delivery, but they look forward to enjoying wood stove cooking with their Morso stove this winter.

(Photo left) Entrance hall
(Photo right) Firewood can be carried in through the earthen-floor entryway, making cleanup easy as well.

The master bedroom, where “you can wake up to the sound of birds singing,” is designed as a calming retreat, with a simple interior and the soft glow of floor lamps creating a peaceful atmosphere.

Custom larch woodwork can be found throughout the home, including the washstand, benches, and toilet counter.

The bathroom, dressing room, washroom, and private rooms are all connected in a straight line, creating an efficient flow throughout the home.

This simple layout contributes to the calm and relaxed atmosphere the family values in their everyday life.

A Warm Home That Celebrates Life’s Small Joys

We spoke with the homeowners about their home-building journey.

Q: How did you choose your housing company?

A: “At first, we considered buying an older home and renovating it. What attracted us to Mizuno Construction was the atmosphere created by their generous use of wood and natural materials.”

Q: Could you tell us about the planning and design process?

A: “The single-story model plan already matched our lifestyle and preferences very well, so we moved forward without making major changes. One thing that was especially helpful was having 3D renderings created during the planning stage. We added a fence around the garden for privacy, and the renderings made it much easier to check the balance between the fence’s shape and height and the view from inside the house.”

Q: How are you enjoying the wood stove?

A: “We’re planning to fully enjoy wood stove cooking once the new stove arrives, but last winter we already had fun making roasted sweet potatoes. You simply wrap the sweet potatoes in aluminum foil and place them on top of the stove, and they turn into delicious baked sweet potatoes. It’s so easy that we made a large batch and froze them for later. We’d also love to try baking, simmering, and many other kinds of cooking with it.”

Q: How does the home feel to live in?

A: “It’s a home where you can truly feel the warmth of wood. Thanks to the excellent insulation, very little energy is needed even during Tokachi’s winters.
Being able to see the sky while lying in bed, or feeling the softness of solid wood under bare feet — this home has taught us to appreciate those small everyday joys.”

Interview conducted in July 2024

Photos: Commercial Photo / Movie SWITCH

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