KIZUNAYA building

The project is an atelier, studio and residence for a jewelry designer located in Kyoto’s central commercial district.

Here, the designer, who specializes in commemorative jewelry that enclose hairs and ashes of the deceased loved ones, shares the jewelry making process with his customers.

The customer first encounters the gate-shaped facade by the wooden wall and goes through the gate to enter the courtyard surrounded gallery on the right, an atelier on the left and an upper floor residence. Then the continuity of the wooden framework and the state of various activities are felt by the layer of glass in the frontage direction.

We superimposed these clear rules on wooden gate type facade, glass in the frontage direction, wooden framework, changing usage for each floor.

At staircase of atelier, the hope of the designer is to create solemn approach connecting each room.

Natural light is provided by sky light from the upper part of the staircase, and the three-dimensional wall guides the light into the room, and separates the wooden structure frame softly.

We think that, by inserting this soft wall, we could express the three-dimensional relationship among lifestyle, work and art.

And such non homogeneous space will be related to the city with appropriate distance to neighboring traditional town houses, wooden apartments or shops. Thus we created a generous space and sophisticated relation with the complex context.

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