Oott Aikin Farko: Otal-otal by Toru Teraoka

Oott Aikin Farko: Otal-otal by Toru Teraoka is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Kyautar A' Design Award ta Azurfa in Masaukin Baƙi Competition Category.

AzurfaMasaukin Baƙi· 2026

Oott Aikin Farko: Otal-otal

by Toru Teraoka

Client: OOTT | Toru Teraoka

Kyautar A' Design Award ta Azurfa Winner in Masaukin Baƙi Category

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The Design

About Oott Aikin Farko: Otal-otal

Rubutun Littafi: An gina wannan zauren a cikin kurmin Karuizawa, an ƙirƙira shi a matsayin wuri inda gine-gine, yanayi, da al'umma suke haɗuwa. An ci gaba da ginin sa kusan shekaru goma ta hanyar haɗin gwiwa tsakanin mai aikin, magini, da injiniyan gine-gine, ya zama wani ɓangare na yanayin muhalli mai tasowa da wuraren da suke maraba da karnuka. Ginin yana aiki a matsayin ɗakin zama na jama'a da kuma wurin horo na cikin gida. Idan aka buɗe manyan buɗaɗɗun, cikin ginin yana daidaita da kurmin, yana ba da damar shimfidar wuri ta gudana ta ciki. Rufin da aka yi shi da yadudduka yana kawo hasken rana mai laushi, yana samar da yanayi mai kwanciyar hankali. Sauƙin gine-ginen katako yana nuna yadda hanyoyi masu sauƙi suke haɗuwa da yanayi.

The Recognition

About the Kyautar A' Design Award ta Azurfa

Zanen Oott Aikin Farko: Otal-otal ya lashe Kyautar A' Design Award ta Azurfa, wata karramawa mai tsananin daraja da ake bai wa zane-zane na matakin koli, masu kyau sosai kuma masu burgewa. Waɗanda suka lashe kyautar Azurfa ayyuka ne masu haske sosai da ƙirƙira mai yawa waɗanda ke nuna ƙwarewa, baiwa da kaifin tunanin masu zanensu. Ana sa ran zanen Oott Aikin Farko: Otal-otal ya zama aiki mai ban mamaki, abin koyi, mai ƙwarewa sosai kuma mai ƙirƙire-ƙirƙire mai zurfi. Wannan zane da ya lashe Kyautar A' Design Award ta Azurfa ƙirƙira ce mai abin lura sosai, da ake sha'awa, wacce ke amfanar da kuma kai iyakokin fasaha, kimiyya, zane da fasahar zamani gaba. Zanen Oott Aikin Farko: Otal-otal ƙirƙira ce da ake yi wa hassada sosai wacce ke tada sha'awa, tana kawo jin daɗi kuma tana haifar da mamaki da al'ajabi.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: A hall nestled in the forest of Karuizawa, a renowned summer retreat. For ten years, the client, builder, and architect have continued developing the facility together, overcoming the pandemic and social change to create a contemporary Japanese architecture with enduring universality. Tents for guests with dogs, a dog school, and a grassy run are dispersed across the site, expanded step by step. Conceived for hospitality and sustainable community, the hall extends seamlessly into nature.
Dimensions & Packaging: Floor Area:129m²
Tags: Japan, Karuizawa, Japanese design, timber architecture, wooden structure, hotel, architecture, nature
Production Technology: All square timbers are unified to the standard Japanese size of 120×120 mm, while selected beams use 60×120 mm members hand-split by local carpenters, balancing structural logic with spatial richness. Though based on structural analysis, the joinery conceals its complexity. Developed amid rising material costs during the pandemic, the design balances quality and budget, minimizes concrete, and uses local carpentry with minimal metal fittings to reduce environmental impact.
Design Challenge: For a decade, the same client, builder, and architect worked together, building trust and creating a structure that embodies coexistence with nature. Amid rising material and labor costs during the pandemic, balancing design and budget was crucial. The plan secures needed area and generous volume while controlling cost. Timber was hand-crafted and assembled manually, concrete minimized, and local carpentry with few metal fittings reduced environmental impact.
Research: The design shows deep respect for material essence. Timber and minimal concrete are left exposed, creating refined architectural honesty. Visitors enter a bright space clad in hinoki cypress, continuous with grass and trees, honoring Japanese beauty. External insulation ensures comfort in harsh winters, while the exposed wooden frame expresses both structure and performance. Rooted in its locale, it embodies a Japanese aesthetic connected to the world.
Inspiration: The project shows deep respect for the delicate workings of nature, fostering empathy in its visitors. By placing nature at the center, it seeks harmony between people and environment. Built in timber, the space connects seamlessly with the surrounding landscape and remains committed to sustainability. Developed amid rising material costs during the pandemic, it balances design quality and budget through the use of standard materials and conventional methods, embodying coexistence with nature.
Project Duration: Completed in 2023, the project has received numerous awards both in Japan and internationally.
Operation Flow: The building serves as a lounge for guests and a dog training space on rainy days. When both sides are opened, the forest extends through the hall, and soft light enters from high windows between the three roofs, creating a transparent space rooted in Japanese sensibility. It connects visitors with local nature. Located among private villas, it also functions as a café and open community hub, fostering ties between travelers and residents.
Patents: OOTT, Toru Teraoka, 2023
Team Members: TORU TERAOKA
Image Credits: All photo : Photographer / Tatsuya Tabii