# Local Timber Japanese Guesthouses Schemata Architects Designs the Yawn Yard Project By Amy Duong | Published 2025-01-12 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yawn-yard References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2025/01/09/schemata-architects-yawn-yard-okinawa/) & [schemata.jp](https://schemata.jp/)  Japanese design studio [Schemata Architects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/le-labo-kyoto) worked on the project dubbed [Yawn Yard](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yawn), which is a guesthouse made from locally sourced timber planks. It is clad throughout the series of low-lying angular homes that overlook the captivating views of the sea on Kouri Island, Okinawa. The project comprises seven individual guesthomes spread across two sites nearby connected by a road. Schemata Architects founder Jo Nagasaka shared with [Dezeen](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yamaguchicho-house), "The freestanding villas for families and groups of several people were all designed to allow guests to stay in privacy without worrying about the noise of adjoining guests. Considering the inefficiency of making different plans for the individual buildings, we developed a more efficient design method using an inverted V-shaped unit combining two standardised plans. The openings of the V-shape are adjusted and each unit is positioned according to the direction of the sea view and the site shape." Image Credit: Ju Yeon Lee ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.9/10 - Popularity: 20% | Activity: 4% | Freshness: 34% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Sustainable Architecture:** Using locally sourced timber for construction projects exemplifies a shift towards environmental responsibility in architecture. - **Privacy-focused Design:** Designing freestanding villas that prioritize privacy reflects a growing demand for secluded and personalized guest experiences in hospitality. - **Standardized Modular Building:** Employing standardized V-shaped modular units to create guesthouses showcases a move towards efficiency and flexibility in architectural design. ### Where This Applies - **Construction:** Timber-based projects like the Yawn Yard emphasize a resurgence in wood as a primary construction material, promoting sustainable practices in the construction industry. - **Hospitality:** The development of private, quiet accommodations such as freestanding villas responds to an increasing consumer preference for custom-tailored travel experiences. - **Design and Architecture:** Innovative design methods that incorporate modular and site-specific planning are transforming traditional approaches within the architecture sector. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Temple-Inspired Idyllic Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/k-residence-1.md) - [Raw Blackened-Wood Family Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yamaguchicho-house.md) - [Japanese Island Holiday Villas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/not-a-hotel.md) - [Timber Tradition Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fukasawa-residence.md) - [Ever-Changing Japanese Houses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kumagaya-house.md) - [Cohesive Co-Operative Housing Projects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sumu-yakashima.md) - [Barn-Inspired Timber Residences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-w-1.md) - [Layered Living Residence Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ymk.md) - [Intertwined Forest-Nestled Cottages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hand-in-hand-house.md)