Karma Hakuba

Karma Hakuba is a 1,600 sqm, 20-key boutique ski resort located directly at the foothill of the Hakuba ski mountain, positioned between the village and the slope, adjacent to the gondola. Conceived through Patterns’ ongoing investigation into geological form, the project is articulated as a stepped, stratified mass that both embraces the entry condition and opens toward the mountain, creating a sequence of deep balconies oriented to the alpine landscape. The ground level consolidates social and wellness amenities, including a lobby, bar and restaurant, and exterior terraces with jacuzzis and fire pits, while a direct ski-in connection leads to a partially sunken concrete plinth that anchors the building within the terrain. Clad in standing-seam metal panels that register the shifting light of sky and snow, and contrasted with warm wood interiors, the architecture balances monumentality and intimacy, positioning the resort as a contemporary extension of the mountain and the rituals of alpine life.