Øst Residences in Karuizawa, showcases Eight’s architectural and interior concept designs
Hong Kong, 8 February, 2023 – Eight is pleased to share that Øst Residences, a luxurious new residential development for which Eight created the brand and architecture concepts, has won Japan’s prestigious Good Design Award. The project was developed by Wellwood in the country escape for Tokyo’s elite, Karuizawa, a forested resort town a little over an hour by bullet train away from downtown Tokyo.
“All our projects start with defining a core story that appeals to a clearly defined target market, which we call the brand’s DNA. From there, our designers and creatives work to shape the physical experiences that users will enjoy, including spaces and moments,” says Chris Fjelddahl, Partner, Eight Partnership. “Øst Residences’ win of the Good Design Award speaks to the strength of our brand-led space design ethos and our ability to evoke a sense of connection to the brand.”
Øst Residences is inspired by the ‘silent design’ of Scandinavia and the ‘komorebi’ style of Japan. Building on the brand strategy of “The Land Between,” the place you can escape to, Eight made the design concept, carving out clean lines of dark and light timbers to exude elevated sophistication that matches the surroundings. Emphasising the light and shadow concept is an arrival created with natural oak pillars and glass that bring the nature outside to the inside. The colour palette was also chosen to convey Øst’s immersion in nature.
Koshiro Hiroi, the founder of Øst Development, says “Inspired by Karuizawa’s beautiful natural surroundings and its lifestyle, we were aiming to create a new brand residence based on the value of exclusive, contemporary, and crafted. I am very pleased that the Øst’s design concept and philosophy were highly evaluated and obtain Good Design Award. I really appreciate that Eight and Wellwood created the brand/design concept, and Wellwood led the project making it tangible. I believe that Øst will gain universal acceptance. “
“Karuizawa’s local design codes are quite restrictive, including for features such as the slope angles of roofs,” continued Fjelddahl. “We worked hard with Wellwood to deliver those razor-thin roof edges and create interior journeys where moments of nature would be thoughtfully framed in a way that inspires owners and visitors.”
Øst Residences stands on a 15,000 sqm plot and comprises 33 luxury condominiums. 15 different condo types were designed, ranging in size from 80 sqm to 192 sqm, some with private gardens ranging in size from 21 sqm to 202 sqm. All residents have exclusive access to the Øst Residence clubhouse, which offers a Chef’s Kitchen and Library Lounge designed by interior designer Koichiro Ikebuchi, as well as a garden terrace with an open-air barbecue and a meeting room.
Beyond the design acclaim, Øst has been a commercial success, selling out within months of launch and setting new price records in the area.
About Wellwood
Wellwood Limited was established in 2015 as a boutique real estate firm in Japan specializing in inbound and outbound investments, development, regional revitalization, and M&A. Wellwood provides customized solutions and planning advisory for investors in Asia and Europe. With a solid foothold in Japanese real estate across various property sectors, Wellwood has been working on luxury residential and hospitality developments in Tokyo and the redevelopment of regional gateway cities.
https://wellwood.jp/
About ØST Development
ØST Development offers rich and elevated lifestyles, based on the values of exclusive, contemporary, and crafted. This new concept of high-caliber residential development was launched with ØST Residence in Karuizawa. ØST will be expanded in order to create the value in cities and enrich people’s lifestyle.