•t h e s t o r y

•o u r w o r k

•a r c h i t e c t u r e t o u s

•t h e p r o c e s s

•w e s t h i r a f u

•t h e n a r r a t i v e

•t h e c o n c e p t

•o d e t t e & o d i l e

•o d e t t e p i c t u r e s

•o d e t t e p l a n s

•o d i l e p i c t u r e s

•o d i l e p l a n s

•t h e c o n c l u s i o n

•c r e d i t s

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c l i c k t o n a v i g a t e t o

THESTORY

BLACK SWAN. WHITE SWAN. This is how our story begins. A story about Odette and Odile. What is in a name? For us it is always multifaceted.

The stories we tell, and we do love telling stories, give life to the houses we craft, demonstrating the love, care and effort we lavish on each house we imagine and create ‹

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Our Work

Let us talk about our work. It is prodigal, dark, and incandescent at the same time. We hold a strong belief in the personal and collective power to realize fascinating possibilities.

“This world is but a canvas to our imagination.” Henry David Thoreau

We like the freedom that a wide repertoire within the architectural syntax gives us; while at the same time, pejorative of the commonality of being safe. The versatility, variety and vibrance of our designs demonstrably reflect this.

While finely attuned to details, we prefer the creative management of a process that is skewed towards the spontaneous. This stems from an approach to life where over-planning is unnecessary. A certain degree of informality always helps and, because we are confident in ourselves and our direction, enables us to “go with the flow”. It is improvisation but not frippery.

We appreciate the stability of good and timeless design executed with a progressive ideology towards evolution; yet, we are conscious of the past, present and future. We never forget to value the memories we keep as they are an important source of ideas for both the present and the future.

A key outcome of our efforts is the manifestation of etherealness through realizing our interpretation of modern beauty. Houses that offer a balance between the social and the personal are what we endeavour towards.

After all that has been said, we are positively hopeful that our work will have an impact. It is this hope that lays the groundwork for better things to come, and we constantly hope and earnestly strive to do better ‹

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Architecture To Us

Architecture is increasingly practiced with remiss, often as a means to an end, without soul and often overly commercial in its implementation. At the other end of the spectrum, fashionable architecture is obsessed with individuality and uniqueness; realized for the sake of instant seduction and gratification. The fundamental nature of architecture, which is dialogical and conversational, emphasizes context. It underscores the relationship to the dynamics of the landscape and environment and how we experience them through the architectural language and execution. It is important to respect the location.

An all encompassing approach to design guarantees a comprehensive outcome that is conducive towards dialogical essence. The objective is to create buildings where there is dialogue with the context.

We generally avoid creating capacious spaces for the sake of impressing with absolute size. Spaces need to be thoroughly thought through, with consideration to its ultimate use and its relationship with the user and context. To do so we imagine, anticipate and comprehend the intended use by the user, with an attuned sensitivity to his or her needs. It is an intuitive human-centric approach.

In recognizing the importance of function and utility to achieve the right balance with aesthetics, we integrate the interior with the architecture in the planning stages of each and every house we craft. This way, we allow for the architecture to adapt to the interior, and conversely, for the interior to adapt to the architecture.

We believe in giving ourselves carte blanche in the creations we bring forth, letting our fecund imagination conjure up interiors that are a diatribe against the bland, but at the same time, grounded with a principle focus on coherence and comfort. While our oeuvre spans a wide eclectic variety, we certainly do not believe in the evanescent.

To this end, we cannot reiterate enough how we simply love to work with materials, artists, craftsmen and the artisans. A spirit of exploration and our propensity to test new ideas all serve to reinforce our doctrine and constant drive to re-think, re-imagine, and re-invent ‹

Buildings not only allow us the act of occupying them, they influence our perception and understanding of the land, landscape and environment, otherwise known as the context.

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BLACK SWAN. WHITE SWAN. This is how our story begins. A story about Odette and Odile. What is in a name? Well, for us... It always takes on many facets.

Our work involves both “left-brained” creativeness and “right-brained” analysis. The latter relates to context and environment, the former takes the analysis of the latter to formulate a creative outcome. Both come together to support our capacity for imaginative and inventive resourcefulness.

The Process

It is important to incite inner dialogue. Inner speech is essential to how we experience things, and experiences are the bedrock of memories.

An environment for ideas to spawn and propagate is what we seek to promote. Such a breeding ground allows for ideas to be bred, used, or discarded. Our continuous drive for improvement only means that all ideas will be followed, replaced or displaced by new ones.

Creativity and design is all about moving forward. Although the extent and degree of change is relative and often debatable, an atavistic attitude is never acceptable. We remain forever restless and curious ‹

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West Hirafu

For those who discover this veritable heaven on earth, it can only be due to kismet. And with it comes a tapestry of experiences to cherish and savour.

Appealing more and more to the global wanderlust cache, the cosmopolitan feel of Niseko transcends creed and culture.

The area we have so mischievously renamed as West Hirafu is a place called St Moritz in Niseko. The context for this can be traced all the way back to 1964 when a relationship was established recognizing Niseko as a sister town to St Moritz. Hence, this is how the hamlet to the west of Hirafu came to take on its current name.

Indeed, this is a wonderful locale situated very close to the hustle and bustle that is the heartbeat and vibrance of Hirafu, yet in a peaceful setting converse to the rampant urbanity that is rapidly taking over Hirafu. The extremities of city life soon fade away in this haven, replaced by restive indolence and halcyon days. Too much vibrancy can be tiring, and it is often worthwhile to stay away from it when we need to seek repose.

Bordered by pristine and unspoiled nature away from the incessant chatter and noise, this enclave is suitable for those who crave seclusion and value their privacy. Nevertheless, it is situated conveniently enough to parachute into the live-wire action of Hirafu at any time. You are never far away from all the activity and happenings, but you retain the prerogative to jettison it whenever it pleases you to do so. It offers a seductive mix of repose and vibrance ‹

Niseko offers a bucolic lifestyle that assuages the grind of city life whence many of us come from. It is equanimity in the face of an increasingly complicated world.

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“There are moments when all anxiety and stated toil are becalmed in the infinite leisure and repose of nature.” Henry David Thoreau

The Narrative

Swan Lake, the ballet, and its fictional lake was reimagined metaphorically in Niseko and from the black and white swans depicted in the ballet sprang forth opposing architectural alter egos. Their respective personalities were the basis from which the two houses took inspiration ‹

The first thing we did was ruminate about the context of Niseko’s St Moritz and the original reason behind its name. Drawing inspiration from the real St Moritz in Switzerland, we focused notably on its lake and, using the fabric of our imagination, conceived an abstract narrative and visualisation of a notional lake in the area.

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TheConcept

In the case of Odette and Odile, we drew inspiration from a faraway location in the Swiss Alps, and created an abstract narrative using the fictional story of Swan Lake amidst the backdrop of Niseko.

The concept is a soliloquy in which we express what we feel is special about “West Hirafu” and the site. And while Hirafu has lost the innocence of a village, in West Hirafu that quality and atmosphere charmingly endures.

As a follow-up to our earlier projects in Niseko, Odette and Odile continues our desire to explore and experiment with new aesthetics internally and externally, and an intentional departure from what is the norm in this unique hamlet. It is an attempt to drive a modern stylistic idiom and further elevate the prominence of sophisticated design, whilst encapsulating the essence of the locale and the beauty of the site ‹

Many of our ideas stem from contemporary archetypal concepts that we resonate with. We deconstruct these and recreate it in the context of the location. A storyline is often created to guide and inspire us and the concept is often a seamless confluence of cultures, trends, vernacular, environment and social context; or simply, what we perceive of those.

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Odette & Odile

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Pertinent to the site are views that span a swathe of evocative scenery. Favourably perched on the high grounds of West Hirafu and surrounded by a cluster of modern chalets, the structure was elevated as high as possible to capture the magnificent views of the visual trademark of Niseko, the ethereal Mt Yotei. The meditative aura that is invoked by the physical omnipresence of Mt Yotei allowed us to realize spaces which were highly contemplative.

Southeast Elevation

However, before we could begin the formal process of spatial planning, we were mindful of the original context. The main determinant of the form of the buildings was the preservation of the mature maple tree already existing on the site. This resulted in the sculptural cut-outs that frame that maple tree. To have such a beautiful tree felled would have been a cause for regret. The solution we envisaged was to construct the two buildings around the tree. We envisioned this tree allowing a greater connection between the buildings and nature, as well as creating a relationship that linked the buildings with the antecedents of the site. In accepting the history and context of the site, the key result was the maple tree becoming a central feature of the architecture and a connection to the physical past of the site ›

“To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts.” Henry David Thoreau

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Odette & Odile

Southwest Elevation

Externally clad in striated carbonized wood to ensconce the structure in a black shell and juxtaposed at the base with exposed pockmarked concrete surfaces, the facade of both buildings was designed to promote both indoor and outdoor interaction, with generously sized fenestrations, intimate courtyards and private terraces. If so desired, the occupants can choose either sublime privacy or offer passersby an unfettered look into the building. It proffers a harmonious dialogue between the external environment and the internal spaces within.

Internally, each space was intended to reiterate intimacy despite the large volumes of space. The elevated structure allowed for a lofty ethereal affair and raising the platform of the living room allowed us to create a space within a space, thus accentuating the experience of that space. We continue to believe in the doctrine that the living and dining areas perform the role of being the axis of activities in a home. They are places where people connect and human relationships are fostered - an optimal environment for interaction and bonding. In the context of a house, we love bringing people together as it always improves the well being of the people being brought together.

To this end, we constantly strive to create spaces that instill the best emotional and physical conditions - “living” spaces where people feel their best. The spaces we conceive verily demonstrate our understanding of space and spatial flow. When spaces flow well, it positively charges up the energy of the building. For Odette and Odile, we have achieved a visual and spatial dimension that results in a series of unfurling surprises, capturing and captivating the senses. Not unlike a cinematic experience with an unfolding visual story.

Materiality and environment are very important to us. We expressed materiality through repetition with a consistent selection of materials, and the tones associated with those materials. Concrete, wood, lacquered surfaces and stone were melded congruously together with the use of various textured fabrics and supple leathers to create a texturally detailed experience. Lighting was employed to allow control over a multiplicity of moods and ambience, hence creating the right atmosphere for different times, activities and needs ›

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With Swan Lake as our inspiration and narrative, and the leading characters and ballerinas as our imaginary muses, we wanted to express the duality of personalities of both the black and white swans in the ballet.

While Odette and Odile share a common architectural language externally; internally, they are an antithesis.

Odile is the first of the two houses, dressed in an alluring spectrum of grey shades spanning the moderate to the dark. The disarmingly monochromatic interior set in a low light environment and the interplay of materials accentuates the sensual experience and heightens the senses, albeit with an element of poignancy or meditative tranquility. This perfectly sets the stage for an introspective consciousness that lingers...

It is said that beauty and poignancy often go hand in hand. Nevertheless, the affirmative result is a pervasively calming space.

In Odette, we intended for an ebullient house, one of vibrant hues and convivial colours cohesively co-ordinated in its completeness. It is an engaging house that would seduce and draw you into its warm embrace, coddling and surprising you at the same time.

Strikingly confident and exuding an effervescent mood, it is a bold and exciting outcome that will not fail to arouse and amplify the senses.

Congruous to our narrative, both Odette and Odile exhibit dual personalities. The differences in interior themes regardless, both houses proffer a texture intense experience and an ineffable style unique to each house. They ooze sensuality inside out. Borne from an intuition to capture the essence and energy of the area, they give life to the site and speak to an audience ‹

Nothwest Elevation

Odette & Odile

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Odette

1 Garage2 Entry3 Foyer4 Genkan5 Ski Room / Laundry6 Machine Room7 Owner’s Storage8 Powder Room

Mount YoteiSki MountainNorth

Basement – ODETTE62.34m2 / 18.86 TSUBO

SCALE: 1:100

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Odette

9 Terrace10 Master Bedroom11 Master Bathroom12 Bedroom 113 Bathroom 1

14 Bedroom 215 Bathroom 216 Dining17 Kitchen18 Living

Mount YoteiSki MountainNorth

Level 1 – ODETTE78.89m2 / 23.86 TSUBO

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Level 2 – ODETTE78.89m2 / 23.86 TSUBO

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Odile

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1 Garage2 Entry3 Foyer4 Genkan5 Ski Room / Laundry6 Machine Room7 Owner’s Storage8 Powder Room

Mount YoteiSki MountainNorth

Basement – ODILE62.34m2 / 18.86 TSUBO

SCALE: 1:100

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Odile

9 Terrace10 Master Bedroom11 Master Bathroom12 Bedroom 113 Bathroom 1

14 Bedroom 215 Bathroom 216 Dining17 Kitchen18 Living

Mount YoteiSki MountainNorth

Level 1 – ODILE78.89m2 / 23.86 TSUBO

SCALE: 1:100

Level 2 – ODILE78.89m2 / 23.86 TSUBO

SCALE: 1:100

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As an embodiment of our assiduous desire to constantly evolve and change within the context we work in, the houses we build are the terminal result of the ideas we develop from the ideology we adhere to. They are products for the discerning.

We absolutely do not do pastiches of ideas, pieced together haphazardly. A holistic approach is our discipline. Our methodology is driven by passion and employed with utmost care and rigorous attention to detail, but certainly not over-planned. Ultimately, this is what design, and all the alchemy it entails, means to us...

To end this afterword, it is our observation that the events taking place in Niseko are invariably causing a seismic effect that is rapidly changing the vernacular and environment. Heretofore, development had been confined to a few small pockets within the greater Niseko area. But with a myriad of contemporaneous developments happening across a much wider expanse and extent than before, it obviously gets harder to discern true substance over hype. It is in such an environment that the ability to see, touch and feel becomes ever so important. We remain confident that our creations have a preternatural disposition and bring a rarefied dimension to an increasingly competitive market. To wit, we are sure you will love what we do ‹

The Conclusion

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In line with our precepts, we wanted Odette and Odile to be an exercise in thoughtful Japanese architecture coexisting with western concepts of interior design using a nuanced and balanced methodology.

“The perception of beauty is a moral test.”

W W W . 2 2 E M E . C O M/ p o r t f o l i o / o d e t t e o d i l e

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS

PROJECT NAME – Odette & OdileLOCATION – St Moritz (West Hirafu), NisekoDEVELOPER – 22ème LandPROJECT MANAGER – 22èmeCONCEPT & INTERIOR DESIGN – 22ème / Avid SingaporeLIGHTING CONSULTANT – Sanctuary NisekoARCHITECTURE – nA Nakayama ArchitectsINTERIOR – Poliform Contract (Italy)

NISEKO RESORT FACTS

LOCATION – Kutchan, Abuta District, Hokkaido, JapanAIRPORT ACCESS – 100km from Sapporo, New Chitose AirportTRAIN ACCESS – 6km (10 min by road) from Japan Rail station in Kutchan townSKI RUNS – 57 runs over 47km of groomed runs. Longest run 5.7kmSKI LIFT SYSTEM – 38 lifts and gondolas. Open 8:30am - 9:00pmSKI TERRAIN – Groomed. Tree runs. Back-country. Beginner to advanced.SKI RUN FEATURES – Half-pipes, quarter pipes, table tops, mogulsNIGHT SKIING – Artificial lighting (including tree runs) open daily during seasonSKI ACCESS – Free shuttle bus 9:00am - 9:00pm

DISCLAIMERWhilst every reasonable care has been taken in preparing this book / brochure / prospectus, the developer and the agents cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies. All statements are believed to be correct but are not to be regarded as statements of representation of facts. All information and specifications are current at the time of going to press and are subject to change as required by the relevant local regulatory building authorities and final survey. All kitchen appliances, sanitary fittings and furniture packages are currently undergoing design and final validation, and are therefore subject to change pending availability and architect’s specification. Visual representations, illustrations, photo–graphs and renderings are intended to portray only impressions of the development that are in line with the overall standard and quality of the project.

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