House in Kyoto with a Central Interior Garen by 07BEACH

Designed for a young family, this house in northern Kyoto, Japan features a simple and open-plan layout, with 07BEACH approaching the interior as a single space. Having to accommodate complex housing regulations, a double-height living room functions as the heart of the home, with traditional Japanese elements present throughout the overall aesthetic. The open living space was implemented to allow the clients to keep an eye on their three small children, constantly moving about.

Once space was allocated for various rooms and parking at the front of the house. There wasn’t enough room left for an adequate backyard, with neighbouring walls in close proximity. Therefore, the architects made the living space double up as an internal courtyard, adding large skylights to the sloped roof in order to maximize direct daylight. To enhance the notion of bringing the outside in, a large indoor tree takes pride of place in the centre of the home. Finding a suitable tree was an initial challenge, with 07BEACH ultimately landing on a ficus tree for its evergreen nature and glossy green leaves.

The architects explain, “It is expected that the tree which will grow close to the three children and will strengthen the relationship between the family and the house as if the tree is another member of the family.”

Culturally significant in Japan, Cypress timber features as the primary interior material, covering the floors, cladding the ceiling, and forming balustrades and partitions throughout. Again, in favour of an open layout with maximized visibility between rooms, the house features few solid partitions, with timber slats forming screens between rooms instead.

Bar the option of a curtain screen, the bathroom also remains completely open. Located on the ground level off the main living space, the bathtub faces toward the tree so the occupants can enjoy an ‘open-air’ bath. Made by a local craftsman, mosaic tiles in six shades of green create a forest-like mural that clads the bathroom walls, a further reference to bringing the outside in.