When my wife and I were considering the construction of a cabin in Hakuba for skiing and summer vacations, we looked into a number of builders/designers. My primary concern was language. I wanted to be able to communicate with whoever took on the project so that they understood my sense of esthetic and what I wanted in the project. After speaking to a local builder in Hakuba, my wife started doing some research and found Hayashi-san through the internet. I was immediately struck by the bold nature of his designs and his ability to incorporate natural elements into small spaces full of light and energy.
We were impressed with Hayashi-san from our first meeting. Because we are based in Tokyo, we relied on Skype to communicate with him. My wife translated between Japanese and English so that I could fully express my desires. Despite the challenges of being in Tokyo, I found the communication with Hayashi-san to be easy. He instinctively understood what I wanted in the project and he did a wonderful job translating my thoughts and impressions into a design that we liked. He was very attentive to our needs, both from a design perspective and from the standpoint of our budget. He was conscious of the budgetary constraints and did a very good job working within our budget.
The design process was straightforward and easy. I especially appreciated the way Hayashi-san managed the project and kept us informed at key moments in the build. His relationship with the builder, Kanamori, ensured the house was built to very high standards.
Hiring an architect made the difference between building an average house and building something that we feel is truly unique and special. The project came in on time and on budget. The quality of the build definitely exceeded our expectations.
I would recommend Hayashi-san and his team, including the builder Kanamori, without hesitation.
