Forest Archetype Pangunahing Tungkulin: Bahay by Genta Takano

Forest Archetype Pangunahing Tungkulin: Bahay by Genta Takano is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award na Bronse in Disenyo ng Arkitektura, Gusali at Estruktura Competition Category.

BronseArkitektura· 2026

Forest Archetype Pangunahing Tungkulin: Bahay

by Genta Takano

Client: Gla

A' Design Award na Bronse Winner in Arkitektura Category

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The Design

About Forest Archetype Pangunahing Tungkulin: Bahay

Teksto ng Aklat: Ang Forest Archetype ay isang proyektong pantirahan na isinasalin ang spatial na kaayusan ng isang gubat tungo sa isang siksik na anyong arkitektural. Ang disenyo ay inaayos sa pamamagitan ng isang naka-layer na sistemang estruktural sa halip na karaniwang paghahati ng mga silid. Ang mga vertical na elementong estruktural ay nagtatakda ng galaw at mga gawain habang pinapanatili ang biswal na pagpapatuloy sa buong interyor. Ang naka-layer na komposisyong ito ay lumilikha ng mga bukas na puwang at semi-outdoor na mga espasyo na sumusuporta sa nababagong pang-araw-araw na paggamit. Sa pamamagitan ng malinaw na lohikang estruktural at spatial na pagkakasunod-sunod, naaabot ng bahay ang yaman at pagiging bukas habang nananatiling pinipigilan sa sukat.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award na Bronse

Ang Forest Archetype Pangunahing Tungkulin: Bahay ay nagwagi ng A' Design Award na Bronse, isang lubhang prestihiyosong pagkilalang iginagawad sa mga natatanging disenyong nakikilala sa pagkamalikhain, katalinuhan at talas ng isip. Ang mga nagwagi ng Bronse ay mga likhang lubhang mahusay at kapansin-pansing malikhain na nagpapatunay sa malawak na karanasan, imahinasyon at pagkamaparaan ng kanilang mga tagapagdisenyo. Inaasahang ang Forest Archetype Pangunahing Tungkulin: Bahay ay isang lubos na pinahahalagahan, hinahangaan at minamahal na bagay na kapansin-pansing propesyonal at makabago. Ang disenyong ito na nagwagi ng A' Design Award na Bronse ay nagsasama ng pinakamahuhusay na kasanayan sa sining, agham, disenyo at teknolohiya, at mahusay dahil sa pansin nito sa detalye. Ang Forest Archetype Pangunahing Tungkulin: Bahay ay kahanga-hangang tumutugon sa mga pangangailangan, humahaplos sa mga hangarin, bumibighani sa damdamin at umaakit sa pag-uusisa.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This project is a residential building that reinterprets the spatial structure of a forest within a compact domestic setting.
Instead of relying on conventional room divisions, the house is organized through a layered structural system that integrates architecture and built in furniture.
Large, trunk like elements form the spatial backbone of the house, enabling diverse activities and visual connections.
By combining structural clarity with spatial flexibility, the design achieves richness and openness while remaining restrained in scale.
Dimensions & Packaging: Number of floors: 2 above ground
Eaves height: 5885mm
Maximum height: 6386mm
Site area: 1293.00m2
Building area: 85.11m2
(Building coverage ratio: 6.58%, allowable: 60%)
Total floor area: 124.14m2
(Floor area ratio: 9.60%, allowable: 200%)
First floor area: 72.16m2 Second floor area: 51.98m2
Construction type: Timber structure
Tags: house, architecture, forest, spatial structure, timber
Production Technology: The ceiling above the central void was finished with a low gloss metallic surface to control light reflection and enhance spatial depth.
This surface subtly reflects changes in daylight and surrounding vegetation throughout the seasons, contributing to environmental continuity without direct visual imitation.
Large suspended panels beneath the ceiling were designed as abstracted elements derived from surrounding trees, using simplified geometry and controlled spacing.
These elements modulate light, views, and scale, creating differentiated spatial conditions through material treatment rather than enclosure.
Design Challenge: The primary challenge was balancing continuity with the forest while maintaining architectural clarity and structural stability.
From a creative perspective, the project required reconciling Japanese spatial traditions, such as the fragmentation of small rooms, with contemporary residential needs.
From a technical standpoint, ensuring sufficient structural performance in a timber building led to the adoption of a reinforced frame using aramid fiber sheets to address lateral forces.
Material selection was also critical, as silver steel surfaces were carefully introduced to reflect seasonal light without overwhelming the interior.
These challenges required close coordination between design intent, structural constraints, and construction feasibility.
Research: This project is based on design research exploring residential architecture adjacent to natural forests.
The objective was to understand how built space can coexist with a forest while maintaining continuity rather than separation.
The methodology involved on-site observation, spatial analysis, and iterative design testing.
Tools included site walks, sketches, physical models, and full-scale spatial studies.
The primary participants were the architect and the future occupants.
The result was a four layered spatial system that aligns architectural elements with the scale of trees.
This research demonstrates how architectural structure can enhance daily comfort and foster a closer relationship between living space and surrounding nature.
Inspiration: This project was inspired by repeated observations of a forest adjacent to the site.
Through walking and spending time within this environment, I became aware of its spatial order, formed by the vertical presence of trees and their layered relationships.

Rather than imitating the forest as a natural form, the design seeks to abstract its vitality into a clear architectural system.
This led to the development of large, trunk like structural elements arranged in layered compositions, responding to the trees along the cliff and translating their spatial logic into architecture.
Project Duration: The project was completed in 2017 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
Operation Flow: The house is experienced through movement rather than fixed rooms.
As occupants walk through the interior, the layered walls gradually align with the scale and rhythm of the surrounding trees.
This creates a continuous flow between inside and outside, where built elements and natural scenery visually overlap.

Living within the house involves moving through changing degrees of openness, light, and enclosure.
This interaction allows daily activities to unfold naturally, producing a calm and immersive environment that feels connected to the adjacent forest rather than separated from it.
Image Credits: GLA