In Narutaki, Kyoto, kooo architects was hired to plan and oversee the renovation of a historic Sukiya-style home. 

The location is situated in a peaceful neighborhood where rich environment and a rich historical culture continue to flourish, a short distance from the heart of Kyoto. Nestled against a forested slope, the property is situated on a sloping ground. 

The garden is decorated with seasonal plants that provide a range of hues throughout the year, and the detached annex offers a view of the picturesque Rakusei neighborhood in western Kyoto. It is a calm setting endowed with the peaceful richness of coexisting with the natural world.

This project aimed to bring the classic elegance of Sukiya design into the modern era while balancing architecture with its natural surroundings. 

The studio has transformed the house into a peaceful and profoundly enlightening place to live by integrating features like the garden, the mountain scenery, and the soft water flow into daily life.

Utilizing the site's natural slope, we created a specially built waterfall between the detached annex (first floor steel construction, second floor wooden structure) and the main home (wooden structure). 

This makes it possible to experience the water's flow from the main house's living room, incorporating nature into daily life.

Main house

Three separate areas were created from the original tatami rooms, which had been divided into tiny compartments: an earthen-floored passageway (doma) that led to the detached annex, a large guest reception area, and an LDK that provided a place to unwind and view the garden.

Fusuma sliding doors, designed by Noda Hanga Studio, are installed in the arthen-floored passageway, creating a warm threshold that also acts as an entrance to the annex. 

The studio used traditional Juraku plaster for the walls and ceilings, which gave the room a cozy, elegant Japanese feel.

About the Annex

With three guest rooms and a lounge that faces the main house, the annex serves as a private villa. 

The walls and ceiling are done in a simple white color scheme to create a peaceful background that highlights the beauty of the cherry wood and the salvaged timber beams. 

This makes it possible to completely appreciate the vistas that are taking place in front of the structure.

kooo architects designed a jewelry store that features a transparent screen with floating halos to showcase jewels vertically in Suzhou, China. In addition, the studio completed a new store at Plaza 66 in Wuhan, China.

Project facts

Project: Kyoto Sukiya House
Location: Kyoto, Japan
Renovation area: 323.59 m2 (Main House:199.29 m2 Annex:124.30 m2) Site area 1637.02 m2
Design/Supervision: kooo architects (Ichijo-toma)
Construction: Azp Inc.
Landscape design: Inada Landscape
Landscape construction: Uetoh zohen Co.,Ltd.
Fusuma Noda: Print Studio
Wood Tachibana: Sho-ten

Photography © Keishin Horikoshi/SS.

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