Komorebi House

Nestled into the quiet wooded foothills of northern Kyoto, Komorebi House was conceived as a meditation on the Japanese concept of dappled sunlight filtering through tree canopies. Rather than imposing an alien geometry onto the slope, the residence steps down across three terraced volumes, each calibrated to frame specific botanical vignettes.

The structural skeleton employs board-formed concrete tinted with local river silt, producing an earthy tone that patinas gracefully with moisture. Deep overhanging eaves crafted from charred yakisugi cedar protect the interior from summer sun while allowing low winter light to penetrate deep into the living spaces.

Inside, boundaries dissolve through pocketed shoji screens and uninterrupted limestone floors that flow from hearth to exterior reflection pool. Every joint and shadow gap speaks to the tactile dialogue between traditional Japanese joinery and contemporary minimalist engineering.