Shinka 2 House represents a carefully choreographed collaboration between architecture, interior planning and landscape design. Developed in partnership with Sekisui House’s architects and design managers, the landscape was conceived not as an applied layer, but as an integral component of the home’s spatial, environmental and lifestyle performance.
From the earliest design stages, ecodesign worked closely with the Sekisui House team to ensure the external spaces reinforced the architectural intent of Shinka 2 — a home defined by clarity of form, natural materiality and a strong connection to landscape. Regular design workshops and coordinated documentation allowed the landscape to evolve in parallel with the home’s planning, structure and services, ensuring seamless integration across disciplines.
A key objective of the collaboration was to strengthen the relationship between indoor and outdoor living.
The landscape was designed to extend the home’s internal spaces outward, using aligned levels, consistent materials and carefully framed views to dissolve the boundary between inside and out. Garden zones were positioned to correspond directly with living areas, creating a series of outdoor rooms that function as natural extensions of the home rather than separate destinations.
Material coordination was central to achieving this cohesion. ecodesign worked with Sekisui House’s architects to select finishes that complemented the home’s palette while remaining robust and timeless in an external setting. Hard landscape elements were detailed to align precisely with architectural datum lines, thresholds and façade rhythms, reinforcing a sense of order and refinement throughout the site.
Planting design was approached with equal discipline.
The palette was deliberately restrained, favouring structure, texture and tonal variation over overt colour. This allowed the garden to support the architecture without competing with it, while still providing seasonal interest and a strong connection to nature. Plant selections were carefully matched to microclimates created by the building form, ensuring long-term health, low maintenance and visual consistency.
Privacy and outlook were also key considerations. Through close coordination with the architectural team, planting was strategically positioned to screen neighbouring properties, frame outlooks and soften built elements without compromising light or ventilation. Trees and layered planting were used to modulate scale, helping the home sit comfortably within its setting while maintaining a strong architectural presence.
The landscape also plays an important environmental role within the Shinka 2 House concept. Working alongside Sekisui House’s sustainability objectives, the garden was designed to support passive comfort strategies, manage stormwater and contribute to thermal moderation around the home. Permeable surfaces, deep soil zones and carefully considered grading all assist in water infiltration and site performance, reinforcing the home’s broader environmental credentials.
Construction documentation and delivery were managed collaboratively, with ecodesign coordinating closely with Sekisui House’s design managers to ensure detailing intent was carried through to execution.
This integrated process minimised compromises on site and allowed for a high level of finish across both built and planted elements.
The result is a landscape that feels effortless and resolved — one that enhances the experience of the home without drawing attention to itself. Paths, terraces and garden spaces are intuitively arranged, guiding movement and use while remaining flexible enough to adapt to changing family needs. The garden matures gracefully over time, reinforcing the idea of Shinka 2 House as a living environment rather than a static object.
Shinka 2 House demonstrates the value of early and ongoing collaboration between landscape architects and residential builders. By working closely with Sekisui House’s architects and design managers, ecodesign was able to deliver a landscape that is deeply aligned with the home’s design philosophy — a quiet, refined and enduring expression of integrated living.
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