The genesis of Shishi-Iwa House began with the founders interest in using architecture to provide guests with a restorative sanctuary and a place for intellectual creativity.

With a sinuously fluid movement, one finds a library, 250-tree garden and a shared social space at the heart of this retreat. Clusters of three to four rooms with shared kitchenettes sit around the Grand Room, a shared living room that also connects to the garden.

Located in Karuizawa, a mountain resort in Japan's Nagano Prefecture, this eco-conscious retreat is nestled in woodland and intentionally built to a modest human scale, allowing guests to enjoy the privacy of their rooms and the opportunity to share and socialise with other guests in a home setting.