Located a short distance from central Kyoto, the site is situated in a tranquil setting where rich natural surroundings and historical culture continue to thrive. Nestled on a sloping hillside adjoining the mountain behind, the property enjoys expansive views over the Rakusai landscape. Seasonal vegetation enriches the garden throughout the year, creating a serene environment deeply connected to nature.

This project seeks to harmonize architecture with its natural surroundings while carrying forward the enduring qualities of traditional sukiya architecture into contemporary living. By incorporating natural elements such as the garden, mountain views, and the flow of water into everyday life, the renovation creates a residence that is both tranquil and richly immersive, offering a renewed way of living in close relationship with nature.

Upon entering the main house, visitors are welcomed by a set of fusuma sliding doors created by Noda Hanga Kobo. The artwork features motifs drawn from traditional Japanese symbols of good fortune, including bells, braided cords, and origami, alongside the pattern known as Aogi Matsu, which symbolizes the idea that both front and back, host and guest, are equally important.

The shimmering printed pigments respond subtly to changing light conditions, revealing different expressions throughout the day and allowing guests to experience the passage of time through the artwork.

Traditional materials and craftsmanship are further incorporated through elements such as a Kurama stone step and doors finished with handcrafted naguri texture by Tsukinomi. Together, these details convey the richness of natural materials and the warmth of artisanal workmanship.

In the pre-renovation condition, the engawa had been enclosed and absorbed into the interior. As part of the restoration, it was returned to its original role as an intermediate outdoor space, allowing the garden to become a more immediate and integral part of daily life.

The design enables all sliding doors to be fully opened during pleasant seasons, creating a seamless connection between indoors and outdoors and allowing residents to enjoy the garden from within the house as well.

While the residence has been thoughtfully updated for contemporary living, great care was taken to preserve the beauty of traditional Japanese domestic life. Elements such as the washitsu and tokonoma have been retained and reinterpreted, ensuring that these cultural qualities continue to be experienced throughout the home.

The garden surrounding the engawa was carefully renewed while preserving the existing trees. Stones excavated from within the site were repurposed to create a cascading stone waterfall, strengthening the connection between the landscape and its setting.

During the construction of the waterfall, existing stones weighing up to three tons were assembled using traditional lifting techniques with sanmata and futamata wooden tripods. Crafted largely by hand and using materials found on site, the garden carries forward the history and local character of Narutaki while preserving the knowledge and skills of traditional craftsmen for future generations.

The grand reception room, located beyond the traditional toori-doma passage, was renovated with a strong emphasis on preserving existing materials wherever possible. The original ceiling, lighting fixtures, and fusuma sliding doors were retained, while only the fusuma paper was replaced, introducing a quiet and respectful renewal to the space.

The patina of materials shaped by decades of use harmonizes naturally with the newly introduced elements, creating a Japanese interior where old and new coexist with subtle balance. The character and warmth of the aged timber and joinery have been carefully preserved, while the space has been gently adapted to offer a sense of lightness and comfort suited to contemporary living.

The second floor of the main house was designed as the owner’s private bedroom. Existing elements in good condition, including the exterior balustrades and ranma transoms, were preserved wherever possible, while the bathrooms and interior finishes were thoughtfully renewed for contemporary living.

The approach connecting the main house and the detached wing was conceived as a small garden promenade. With each step, residents encounter the changing character of seasonal plants and the subtle presence of wind, allowing nature to accompany even the simplest daily movements.

While maintaining a comfortable sense of separation, the main house and the detached wing remain gently connected, each softly aware of the other’s presence.

The guest wing, positioned on elevated ground, was designed with an extended eave that creates a sheltered threshold from which to appreciate distant mountain views and the changing seasons of the garden.

Large openings in the shared living area bring the surrounding landscape close, allowing greenery and seasonal breezes to flow naturally through the space. By keeping the architectural expression restrained, the beauty of light, wind, and nature is allowed to take center stage, fostering a calm and intimate connection with the environment.

In the second-floor bedroom, shoji screens were introduced to filter daylight into a soft, dappled glow reminiscent of sunlight passing through trees.

The light gently changes throughout the day, creating a calm and tranquil atmosphere within the room. In the morning, it gradually fills the space, allowing guests to begin the day with a quiet awareness of nature.

By incorporating traditional Japanese materials that softly diffuse light, the bedroom was designed as a place of warmth, serenity, and rest.

The stair hall connecting to the second-floor guest room was conceived as a quiet transitional space, allowing guests to gently settle their minds before rest.

At the landing, a shoji screen introduces softly diffused light that envelops the space in a calm and tranquil atmosphere. The gentle glow creates a sense of stillness, marking a subtle transition from the activities of the day to the quietness of the evening.

The primary guest bedroom preserves the dramatic exposed timber beams of the original structure. Their powerful composition brings a sense of depth, character, and quiet permanence to the space.

The openings are carefully framed in wood, allowing the surrounding landscape and its ever-changing seasonal greenery to become the focal point of the room. From the open hinoki bath, guests can fully immerse themselves in the beauty of Japan’s natural materials and scenery—wood, stone, and the borrowed landscape of the mountains beyond.