GUEST HAUS IN HACHIJOUCHIDACHO

A project to convert a compact, 17-tsubo (approx. 56-sqm) structure into a guesthouse. Repeated past renovations had covered the interior walls in plywood, erasing its traditional Machiya character. Furthermore, legal constraints blocked official Kyo-machiya certification, making the re-acquisition of "Machiya identity" through the facade a primary design catalyst. Structurally, to reinforce a tilted gable wall, sister columns were added inside. This intervention further narrowed the already tight 3,250mm frontage. Rather than treating these columns as mere obstructions, the design integrates them as traditional exposed framing (Shinkabe), utilizing the gaps as plumbing chases and decorative niches. The constraint that threatened to shrink the space was fluidly inverted into a functional asset that enriches its spatial density.

The staircase and alcove (Tokonoma) are unified into a singular blue volume enveloped in Kurotani Washi paper by artisan Wataru Hatano (Tosa Washi at the entrance). By keeping the alcove low, the presence of the first floor subtly telegraphs to the second. Positioned at the center, this vivid blue block serves as a centripetal core where the spatial axes of "fore and aft" and "above and below" intersect. The choice of blue was driven by functionality: its superior lightfastness against UV rays from the skylight above. Addressing potential concerns about durability, the design embraces the texturing of time. Wear from years of use or scratches from luggage can simply be patched over with fresh layers of Washi. This patchwork maintenance is not a flaw, but a deliberate layer of evolving patina.

The bedroom is conceived as a single volume with an open upper plenum, demarcated only by large, double-sided Taiko-shoji screens. This structural openness leaves the massive Gorombo (log beam) in the hallway unobstructed, asserting a powerful presence within the micro-scale Machiya. Despite the narrow frontage, oversized sliding shoji screens maximize the sense of release. The flooring undergoes a dual-tone, dual-material split. Dark cedar in the bedroom and light birch in the hallway interpenetrate, intentionally blurring the boundary between primary and secondary spaces. Below, the ceiling flows seamlessly without any dropped header walls, creating a continuous, belt-conveyor-like sweep that unifies the vertical volume.

To maximize the ceiling height of the living room below, structural reinforcement beams were installed atop the existing framing. This technical decision naturally created a unique approach that steps up from the hallway. Embracing the resulting low clearance, this guestroom was intentionally designed as a cozy, contrastingly enclosed refuge. The walls and ceiling are wrapped in seamless white Tosa Washi paper. By neutralizing any sense of pressure despite the low ceiling, the space becomes a serene sanctuary perfectly scaled for lounging on the floor and sleeping on futons.

Despite the micro-scale of the building, the tiny, "cat's-forehead" garden was expanded through a bold subtraction: removing the balcony and reducing the ground-floor lean-to roof. The interior living room wall extends seamlessly outdoors to become the enclosure wall for the courtyard. This gesture creates a visual shield against urban clamor while allowing natural light to flood the interior. This intervention hollowed out a pleasant "blank space" that acts as a direct extension of the living room. Stepping out onto the L-shaped Nureyen (wet veranda), guests can perch on its edge, fully immersing themselves in an engaging outdoor experience within this compact sanctuary.

As is typical with traditional Kyo-machiya, the building features blank gable walls along its north-south axis. However, the synergistic effect of the pocket garden and the strategic east-west fenestration neutralizes any sense of darkness within the compact footprint. The skylight above the stairs does more than just inject natural light into the core; when opened, it acts as a thermal chimney, drawing out hot air to induce a gentle, building-wide micro-breeze. This layout creates a continuous visual axis stretching from the entrance straight through to the garden. As light pours into the center, the evolving interplay of light and shadow transforms the interior, offering long-term guests an engaging, ever-changing spatial experience throughout both day and night.