NISEKO’S renaissance as a modern ski area with international appeal has been marked by an impressive array of attractive new buildings.
But for sheer opulence, architectural innovation and scale, Odin House – the towering five-storey residence nearing completion in Hirafu’s middle village – has raised the bar dramatically to a new level of excellence.
”Perched imperiously beneath its distinctive ‘wave’ style roof on the western edge of the village...
… this grand villa redefines Niseko luxury and hints at a lot more exciting things to come from its progressive development team.
Team Odin Projects is made up of Frenchman Nicolas Gontard, and Norwegian brothers Bjorn and Chris Fjelddahl, who share a passion for Niseko powder and luxury, eco-friendly homes.
Bjorn sums up the trio’s basic philosophy as one of creating ‘intelligent luxury’ – of ‘wanting to marry the best that money can buy with the best that nature can offer’.
This means adding depth to the substance of the residence, rather than a veneer of opulence through flashy inclusions, and demands meticulous attention to design, materials, and environmental issues from initial concept through to completion.
“Going from scribbles on the back of a paper napkin over a bottle of wine, to looking at the site photos now, we are thrilled with the result,” Bjorn says. “All along we had a very strong sense of the Odin ‘DNA’ of intelligent luxury. This informed our choices and selections in a very real way at just about every twist and turn.”
When viewed from the front, storey upon storey of glass, concrete and timber are an inspiring sight. But while the ground level view is suggestive, the rear view truly reveals the scale and grandeur of the structure.
The kitchen, living room, and dining areas are all located on the top floor to maximize the Yotei and Annupuri views, and the whole level is walled in glass and capped by a stunning, recurved roof floating above.
The eco-friendly Odin’s 545sqm of living spaces include five bedrooms, a media room, a fully-equipped gym and a cypress jacuzzi on an extensive wooden deck.
The environmentally-conscious mindset of the project leaders stands out in the list of eco-friendly features throughout the home. Geothermal heating, low-emission glass, renewable timbers and LED lighting all dramatically reduce running costs as well as being eco-responsible.
”We hope Odin will contribute to rejuvenating the resort, and set a design benchmark that will make Hirafu architecture both increasingly pleasing to the eye and eco-responsible
Bjorn FjelddahlOdin
While Odin can be proud of this home, their focus is firmly on the bigger picture.
“Our real ambition is to introduce a new tier of super-premium properties to Niseko,” Bjorn says.
“We hope Odin will contribute to rejuvenating the resort, and set a design benchmark that will make Hirafu architecture both increasingly pleasing to the eye and eco-responsible.
“We’re very excited about Niseko and what’s to come. We have a long-term blueprint which features more design innovation, surprises in styling and scale, and a myriad of product ideas that are brewing or already in the works.
“We are also keen to explore the selection of local materials further – looking in the future for more recycled materials with ‘worn-in’ charm such as used timber flooring. We would also like to explore more new eco-technology.”
Odin Projects has this season completed a luxury lodge hotel Kimamaya, accompanied by fusion restaurant and bar The Barn, alongside each other in Hirafu Middle Village. They are working on their next project, Yasuragi Apartments.