Works
Works
From Yakushima Island, we practice regenerative architecture and landscape design informed by a 1,500-year timescale — from award-winning projects recognized in Japan and abroad, to the works we have built on the island and beyond.
Award-Winning Works
Regenerative Vegan House
Yakushima, Japan
A fully off-grid home built primarily from plant-based natural materials, shaped around the site’s existing terrain, spring water, and vegetation. Free of fossil-derived and chemical materials — a “vegan house” — it shows a form of regenerative architecture where the act of living helps the land renew itself.
Awards
5 awards in Japan and abroad (★ = top prize)
Sumu Yakushima
Yakushima, Japan
Its name layers the Japanese words for “to live” and “to become clear” — a home where human dwelling makes the landscape clearer, not poorer. A fully off-grid residence powered almost entirely by micro-hydro from the island’s abundant rainfall, it reimagines the relationship between human habitation and nature.
Awards
13 awards in Japan and abroad (★ = top prize)
Selected Works
Temple Grounds Regeneration
Japan
Regenerative works across the grounds of a historic Buddhist temple — restoring the underground flow of air and water and renewing the gardens, so the trees sheltering this place of worship keep breathing for generations.
Yoga Retreat Center
Yakushima, Japan
Regenerative civil and landscape works — reading the terrain and water flow to settle the architecture gently into its surroundings.
Banyan Cafe & Dormitory
Yakushima, Japan
Regenerative civil and landscape works for a complex with a cafe and dormitory — grounding the stay in harmony with Yakushima’s nature.
Banyan Retreat: The Nest
Yakushima, Japan
A Zen retreat at the foot of Mt. Mocchom. We contributed the surrounding-environment works and foundation repair that ground this hideaway in the Yakushima forest.
Training Facility E
Yakushima ｜ Regeneration & Ishibadate
A training facility set against the mountains. We took part in regenerating the site and in the ishibadate work — the traditional method of standing posts on foundation stones. The underfloor stays open, leaving paths for wind and water so the soil beneath the building keeps breathing.
SAKURA YAKUSHIMA
Yakushima ｜ Accommodation & Path to the Sea
A seaside accommodation on Yakushima. We built the path leading from the site down to the sea — following the rocky shore and grassland terrain so guests can walk down to the water.
Earth Life Village
Yakushima ｜ Forest Path & Site Regeneration
A village spread through the forest on Yakushima. We built the path running through the forest and carried out regeneration across the whole site — opening the way while keeping the trees, and restoring the flow of water and soil.
Training Facility W
Yakushima ｜ Whole-Site Environmental Work
A training facility surrounded by forest and garden. We carried out environmental work across the whole site — keeping the large trees and rocks while making the grounds easy to walk through.
Årc yakushima
Yakushima ｜ Sauna Surroundings & Path to the River
A facility set beside the forest and river. We carried out environmental work around the sauna and built the path leading down to the river.
aperuy
Yakushima ｜ Whole-Site Environmental Work & Rice Paddy
A site spreading out at the foot of the mountains. We carried out environmental work across the whole site and built the rice paddy.
Yakushima South Village
Yakushima ｜ Site & Adjacent River Regeneration
An accommodation set against the mountains. We carried out regeneration of the site and the river running alongside it.
Corporate Office L
Yakushima ｜ Ishibadate Foundation, Regeneration & Landscaping
A timber office for a company. We handled everything from the ishibadate foundation to regeneration across the whole site and the landscaping — surrounding the building with a forest garden of large stones and wildflowers.
a heavenly kitchen
Yakushima ｜ Regeneration, Stone Paving, Drip Trenches & Parking
A hilltop site overlooking the sea. We carried out regeneration across the whole site and built the stone paving, drip trenches and parking area — creating ground where herbs and flowers thrive and a path for rainwater to soak in.
Ishibadate Chicken Coop
Yakushima ｜ Design & Build
A chicken coop built with ishibadate — the traditional Japanese method of resting timber posts on foundation stones — designed and built entirely by us. No concrete footing, so the ground keeps breathing beneath; a timber box that lets wind and light pass through the forest. Even the smallest structure follows the same regenerative thinking.
Overseas
The regenerative techniques and thinking developed in Yakushima travel well beyond Japan. A short film from our work in Bali, Indonesia.
Green School Bali
Bali, Indonesia ｜ Regenerative Workshop
An international school in Bali known for its bamboo campus. We held a regenerative workshop for the students.
Mana Earthly Paradise
Bali, Indonesia ｜ Regenerative Workshop
An eco-retreat set among the rice fields of Bali. We held a regenerative workshop here.
Madu Waldorf School
Bali, Indonesia ｜ Regenerative Workshop
A Waldorf school in Bali with bamboo buildings beside the rice fields. We held a regenerative workshop here.
Green the Globe.