Drift Niseko Completes Its First Villa

Drift Niseko, a 14-lot villa estate by Summit Developments GK of Skye Niseko, has completed its first home.

Located in a forested area adjacent to Hirafu, Drift Niseko is stretched along a creek gully which ensures forested but clear views due to its downward-sloping topography, as well as limited future development in the area.

Lucas Fuller, Chief Executive Officer at Summit Developments GK, said that Drift Niseko’s master plan and construction rules were designed to preserve the site’s natural beauty and to ensure Mt. Yotei views from each development.

All construction on Drift Niseko’s lots must follow a covenant specifying the building’s allowed location on the lot’s property and maximum footprint, as well as various other details concerning hues, allowed stories and grading and landscaping specifications.

Drift Niseko’s master plan was created by Rob Mirams of Australia’s Fender Katsalidis, in consultation with Japanese architects who advised on how to design property for snow and Niseko’s winter weather.

Mirams described how he visited the site twice, during winter and during the green season, to understand each plot’s particular characteristics.

“Whilst they now form part of a coherent master plan, each lot and dwelling design now has a unique design response to its topography, access and view potentials,” said Mirams.

The design stipulations ensure that each dwelling, said Mirams, from the living spaces and the master bedrooms has a clear view of Mount Yotei and, often, a clear view of Annupuri to catch the lit-up night ski slopes.

The home that has already been completed was designed by AE5 Partners on a 1,376sqm (416 tsubo) plot in the middle of the development.

Owners can work with the architects of their choosing, under the stipulations of the design covenant, although Mirams and Fender Katsalidis are available for villa architecture as well.

A villa on Lot E designed by Mirams will be completed next year, out of at least three other residences that will be finished.

Lot E’s villa will be 600sqm (181.5 tsubo) with several master bedrooms, multiple living areas, an onsen (Japanese hot spring bath) and a tatami room across three split levels centred around what Miram called an “origami” staircase, making it compatible for multi family functions.

Fuller pointed out that Drift Niseko’s walking distance to Hirafu makes it stand out from many other villa estates which are in more remote areas.

All the lots at Drift Niseko are potential onsen (Japanese hot spring bath) villas, a relatively rare but growing amenity for Niseko villa developments.

Uniquely at Drift Niseko, the onsen water, having to be kept in tanks should multiple villas draw water at once, uses existing geothermal energy to keep the water at the right temperature, an ecological solution that also lowers operating costs for Drift owners.

Six of Drift Niseko’s 14 lots have already been sold.

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