Earthboat Cave

Earthboat Cave is the model designed after Hut, planned with the assumption that it would be placed slightly down from deep snowy mountains, in locations resembling the entrance to a village. While not as extreme as heavy snowfall regions, these are mountainous areas where the presence of nature remains strong. It envisions stays in environments such as lakesides, forests, or places where plains begin and signs of human life gradually appear.

The most significant feature of this model is its flat roof. By utilizing a CLT structure, construction efficiency has been improved, enhancing the product’s completeness so it can be deployed more rationally and in a wider range of locations. At the same time, when placed on horizontal land rather than slopes, the architectural experience itself expands horizontally, allowing the surrounding landscape to flow into the interior. The building quietly overlaps with the scenery, running parallel to the surrounding grasslands, water surfaces, and layers of forest. The design carefully preserves this sensation.

The floor plan composition has not changed significantly from Hut. Centered around the concept of outdoor living, the idea of establishing the interior as a minimal shelter has been carried forward. However, the experience of staying differs greatly. Through large openings, the surrounding landscape is framed like a painting, while the interior feels quiet like a cave—emerging as a nest-like place that receives the vastness outside. The name “Cave” conveys the meaning of a secure place where one can entrust oneself with peace of mind while being immersed in vast nature.

The exterior design also contrasts with Hut. Placing the large box-like scale created by the flat roof directly into nature could create a strong sense of incongruity. Therefore, the façade is divided into fine modules, giving it a rhythmic scale that responds to its surroundings. As a result, it achieves an urban sophistication while quietly blending into the natural landscape.

Earthboat Cave responds to the environmental transition from mountains to villages, reinterpreting its relationship with the landscape in a horizontal way. While centering on time spent outdoors, it creates a place within a small interior that holds a sense of vast openness. Carrying forward the philosophy born with Hut, it serves as a model intended for wider deployment across many locations.