Muwa Niseko by Nikken Sekkei – Photos by Forward Stroke Inc.

Architecture. Located in the heart of Hokkaido’s world-renowned ski region, Muwa Niseko by Nikken Sekkei is framed by the dramatic skyline of Mt. Yōtei and surrounded by lush birch forests. The condominium-hotel draws inspiration from the region’s traditional villages, where small gabled houses are scattered across the landscape, and reinterprets these familiar forms in a contemporary architectural language.

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The project embraces the ‘condominium-style’ model, where each of the 34 apartments is individually owned yet unified within a cohesive whole. Structural strategies respond to the area’s heavy snowfall, balancing safety and efficiency with open, light-filled spaces. Each unit seamlessly connects to the surrounding landscape, while the lobby is conceived as a frame for Niseko’s striking natural scenery.

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A central theme of the design is the engawa—the traditional Japanese threshold space mediating between indoors and outdoors. Nikken Sekkei reimagined it as cylindrical balconies for each unit, creating a rhythm along the façade that emphasises both individuality and unity.

On the top floor, the engawa is shaped into gabled forms, reinforcing the architectural dialogue with vernacular rooflines and echoing the contours of the mountain skyline.

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The building is organised around the Four Seasons Garden, a central courtyard that brings daylight into the basement levels, where a spa, hot springs, restaurant, and reception are located. Landscaped with native maples and stones excavated from the site, the garden reflects the local environment and evolves with the seasons.

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Interior design continues this sensitivity: natural finishes, earthen walls, and latticework highlight Japanese craftsmanship, while a three-tone palette ties the apartments to the exterior. Penthouse units incorporate the roof’s geometry into their interiors, offering varied spatial experiences and private open-air baths with views of Mt. Yōtei.

Smart structural choices balance safety with openness at Muwa Niseko. Load-bearing walls were strategically placed, and a 3.6m span configuration kept beam heights low within the 3.1m floor limit. Removing beams above guest rooms created flexible layouts with higher ceilings, while an SRC Vierendeel frame enabled the dramatic 10.8m lobby span. A 6m cantilever frames the sixth-floor open-air bath with views of Mt. Yōtei, and a folded concrete roof opens the top floor with fewer columns.

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Muwa Niseko exemplifies how contemporary architecture can reinterpret tradition while creating a strong dialogue with nature.

Photos are by Forward Stroke Inc. – Courtesy of Nikken Sekkei.