Surrounded by the world’s finest powder snow, it’s ironic the Hong Kong owner of the Yasuragi penthouse doesn’t ski.
Indeed, she‘d never been to the snow until a friend convinced her to bring the family to Niseko for Chinese New Year in 2010.
”I was immediately captivated by the beauty and serenity of the scenery
“The food was authentic, fresh and unpretentious, and the family had a great time skiing.”
They’ve come back every Chinese New Year since, have bought their own slice of Hirafu, and also make regular trips during the “equally tranquil” green season.
Yasuragi is the fourth Niseko project by boutique developer Odin – a partnership made up of a Frenchman and two Norwegian brothers, based out of Niseko and Hong Kong. The team worked with local Hokkaido architect Atelier BNK, which counts the gargantuan Sapporo Dome arena as one of its achievements.
Odin partner Bjorn Fjelddahl says the central idea for the design of Yasuragi – meaning “peace and relaxation” – was to give each owner their own onsen-style bath, with retreating glass walls that allow the space to be turned into a private exterior retreat. Other defining features of the structure are its “butterfly wings” shape and “floating roof” design, maximising the views of Mt Yōtei.
The owner worked with Odin to tailor the space to her needs, one of which was to make the living room an extra warm family space, where the family could relax, read and listen to music. “What I like most is gathering around in the evening, toasting marshmallows and catching up on the day. We brought art with us to decorate the place and it is certainly home. The red colour theme was deliberate to give a feeling of warmth in contrast to the cold outside.”
This article appeared in Powderlife 2014
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