OFFICE IN KAMIGORYOMAECHO

A new timber office for a stonemasonry business, situated directly facing the historic Goryo Shrine. The design prioritizes a respectful dialogue with the shrine’s torii gate, utilizing traditional wooden aesthetics that complement the client’s craft. The building occupies a remarkably narrow site with a depth of only 3.6 meters. To harmonize with the streetscape, the structure is set back from the road and kept to a modest height of 5.8 meters. The first floor includes a versatile tea space. By strategically positioning the entrance, we integrated the client's antique fittings while meeting modern fire safety codes.

The second-floor facade features Mushiko-mado—traditional plaster-lattice windows. Implementing this classical element in a new construction presented significant challenges, including strict fire codes, waterproofing, and the technical complexity of modern plasterwork. Our solution was to create a deliberate "gap" between the lattice and the interior window sash. This detail not only resolved the functional issues of weatherproofing and installation but also concealed the modern aluminum frames from the exterior. By shielding the technical components, we enhanced the building’s aesthetic purity and elevated its historical resonance.

Reflecting the client’s wishes and the sacred site, the exterior features a tiled roof and traditional shinkabe (exposed pillar) plaster walls. While investing in this classical facade, the interior explores how to maximize spatial richness within structural constraints. To honor the client’s craft as a stonemason, the gallery and café area is finished with stone paving. We utilized a Yamato-tenjo (plank-and-batten) ceiling to maintain a low exterior profile while securing ample interior height. Birch plywood is used for the walls and staircase, meticulously aligned with the rhythm of the floor tiles and the pitch of the beams. This careful orchestration of materials ensures a refined, high-density equilibrium throughout the space.

The second-floor office is designed for focused desk work, featuring a custom counter that overlooks the shrine. To overcome the shallow depth of the site, the layout remains open and airy. Spanning the rear wall is a 9-meter-long bookshelf; its entrance requires passing through the shelf itself—a deliberate architectural "scene transition" that marks the shift from the everyday to the professional realm. Adhering to the client’s request for visible wiring, we utilized porcelain insulators for the ceiling lighting. With the ceiling boards serving as both structure and finish, we embraced the constraints of the wiring routes to intentionally invoke the atmospheric charm of a traditional machiya within this contemporary office.

The staircase—designed as integrated display and storage—is crafted from birch plywood, chosen for its structural strength and the aesthetic beauty of its layered edges. By using structural timber only for the very first step, we staged a deliberate point of transition from the stone-paved floor to the warmth of the wooden space. While located within a public gallery and café area, the stairs leading to the second-floor office are flanked by two round pillars to form a "soft boundary." Rather than a rigid physical separation, this subtle architectural gesture—defined by the shift in materials and the presence of the pillars—gently distinguishes the public and private realms, fostering a sense of composure befitting this space.

The exterior degoshi (projecting lattice), finished in red bengala plaster, serves as a display window while providing interior seating that utilizes its depth. For the pantry and restroom floors, we chose tataki (compacted earth) finish to ensure a seamless flow from the stone-paved gallery. By exposing the top of the concrete foundation, we unified the space with a sense of structural honesty. While meeting all regulatory standards for a café, the kitchen avoids conventional panels. Instead, it is finished in mortar to maintain aesthetic consistency with the shop’s interior. This careful selection of materials ensures that the functional requirements of a restaurant coexist naturally with the craftsmanship-driven atmosphere of the stonemason’s office.