Located between the Kyoto Imperial Palace and the Kamo River in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, this project is the renovation of a residence for a young couple within a vintage SRC apartment building designed by Togo Murano.
While the surrounding area retains the calm atmosphere characteristic of Kyoto, the residence itself was required to accommodate a contemporary way of living in which domestic life and work coexist. Rather than simply refining aesthetics or functionality, the project explores how different uses and rhythms of daily life can exist within a single living environment.
The central LDK space incorporates multiple functions, including the kitchen, dining area, living room, workspace, and sleeping area. Instead of clearly separating each function, the spaces are layered gently along the flow of everyday life, allowing each person to naturally find their own place while remaining aware of one another’s presence.
A workspace can also become a place for reading, while the living room may shift into a place for thought and reflection. The plan intentionally avoids fixing each area to a single function, allowing the use of the space to shift naturally throughout the day.
The existing building had relatively low ceiling heights and several physical constraints. Rather than pursuing a simple sense of openness, the design creates depth and spatial continuity through carefully controlled sightlines, concealed equipment, consistent detailing, and the adjustment of furniture proportions and finishes. Built-in elements and furniture were designed according to a shared set of rules, while the overall palette was unified in soft, muted tones to create a calm and gentle atmosphere.
Openings toward the exterior were also maximized wherever possible. To the east, the interior captures morning light and views toward the Higashiyama mountains and the Daimonji hillside. In addition to the low-rise surroundings, the apartment’s position on the sixth floor provides both openness and privacy within the city. The project seeks to bring this sense of openness and quietness into the interior environment.
The renovation reconsiders the atmosphere and scale of the existing architecture in relation to contemporary living. Rather than dividing functions too rigidly, the space allows activities such as working, reading, and dining to overlap naturally within everyday life.
It is a home where two people can spend different kinds of time — reading, working, thinking — while still sharing the same atmosphere.