Niseko Resort Design & Construction builds Tradition, Modern, Contemporary Alpine Environment Design in a range of materials but with an extensive knowledge of the extraordinary forces at play through experience and local knowledge, specifically in the Niseko region of Hokkaido which is designated as a heavy snowfall area by the Japanese Government, and gets blessed with an average of 15 metres of the white and light dry fluffy stuff a year.....

"Snow load and snow settling issues"

On balconies, garages, badly designed roof apex's and eaves, chimneys, and entry stairs can cause a build up of forces that ultimately lead to premature wear, rotting and failure of the building causing it to collapse and even injury.

"Roof snow discharge and snow clearing issues"

Having the roof angle at the right pitch stops snow building up over a certain weight, thus allowing the build up of snow to be discharged regularly before it can settle and accumulate more weight, one square metre of settled snow can weight 300-400 kilograms and discharges from the roof in big blocks, enough to do considerable damage to a car or injure people, fresh powder snow weights around 50-100 kilograms a square metre and doesn't discharge in blocks so at the most you get a cold shower or a car gets a good covering. Also the roof material plays a big part in facilitating this snow discharge process, having very hard wearing modern slippery material that lasts this constant process for many winters is important. Where your roof discharges can help with your snow clearing costs and your winter work load, our example property has a river running along its border, so a one plane roof rather than an apex "A" roof could save thousands of dollars over time, or if that's not appealing an asymmetric roof-(A shaped roof with one side longer) with the longer of the two planes discharging its bulk into the pre-planned designated area, having the roof discharging its snow into an area that is designated for snow dumping in the design of the house is an often over looked critical factor in design planning. Often people build first before considering this factor, then end up with a snow clearing money pit.

"Snow melt"

When the snowmelt begins you need some basic drainage in place in your designated areas and around the house, or a slight slope to the property to instigate run off, if there are areas for the water to accumulate or settle you end up with mud!!! Especially in driveways, and dampness seeping into footings and the lower part of the building begins to rot overtime, some simple planning can alleviate this occurrence, building up high on a concrete footing 1.2-1.8 metres of the ground, gravel drainage under the eave line of the roof, surrounding the footprint of the footing and some well thought out basic drainage troughs are the most common solution.

"Kame-mushi beetle"

Stink bugs in English, these small bug like beatles that hibernate/gestate/breed in the insulation of buildings in the winter only to re-emerge in the summer, buildings need to be treated during the construction process to stop infestation of these bugs, this is a very successful process if done correctly, although no matter how infested properties become you hardly see them during winter and early spring.

"Materials- the shrinkage and expanding factor"

In Niseko, where 30 degree summer temperatures and minus 20 degree winter temperatures, creates extreme climatic forces that are constantly pulling and pushing the materials used in the make up of a building. Matching these materials to economic necessity and building budgets, heating costs, maintenance costs both short and long term, and creature comfort necessity- the house is easy to live in, good natural light, spacious and everywhere is warm, and the overall aesthetics of the design and the environment it is complementing, is a fine balancing act in any alpine environment, especially Niseko as it has a 15 metre+ yearly snow fall average.

"Damp Spring and Autumns"

Causing mould and rotting of untreated materials. As mentioned rising the footings off the ground level and having drainage, also having breathable materials built into buildings, vents and eaves, and breather vents in footings dramatically reduces the affects of autumn rains.