Top Picks: This Crumbling Kyoto Home Was Rebuilt as a Wabi-Sabi Sanctuary – and Every Detail Is Intentional

This crumbling Kyoto home was rebuilt as a wabi-sabi sanctuary by kooo architects, who transformed a neglected Sukiya-style residence in the Narutaki district into a 323-square-meter study in intentional design. The renovation balances strict heritage preservation codes with contemporary spatial logic, proving that respecting the past doesn't mean freezing it in place. Every material choice, every room division, and every sight line serves a specific purpose rooted in centuries-old Japanese tea ceremony tradition.

Key Takeaways

• kooo architects renovated a deteriorating Sukiya-style home in Kyoto's Narutaki district, covering 323.59 m² across a main house (199.29 m²) and a new annex (124.30 m²) on a 1,637 m² site.
• The design reorganizes cluttered tatami rooms into three distinct spaces: an earthen-floored passage, a reception room, and a dedicated garden-viewing room with no secondary function.
• Traditional materials like Juraku plaster, cherry wood beams, and hinoki wood baths anchor the renovation in Sukiya heritage without replicating it literally.
• Local craftspeople handled all finishing work, including custom fusuma sliding doors by Noda Hanga Studio, reinforcing authenticity over mass production.
• A custom-built waterfall between the main house and annex brings the sound and movement of water into daily living spaces.

Quick Comparison: 7 Intentional Design Details at a Glance

1. Juraku Plaster Walls and Ceilings

Why It Stands Out

Juraku plaster is a finish historically tied to Kyoto's architectural identity, and kooo architects applied it across the main house's walls and ceilings to anchor the renovation in local tradition. Unlike standard drywall or modern renders, Juraku plaster develops subtle surface variations over time. These micro-imperfections align perfectly with wabi-sabi philosophy, which finds beauty in natural aging rather than fighting it.

According to Renub Research, Japan's interior design market is projected to grow from $6.39 billion in 2024 to $9.06 billion by 2033, reflecting a 3.95% compound annual growth rate [1]. Much of that growth stems from renewed interest in traditional finishing techniques that offer texture and character mass-produced materials simply can't replicate. Juraku plaster sits at the center of that trend.

Who It's Best For

Homeowners drawn to surfaces that age gracefully rather than deteriorate will appreciate this choice. Juraku plaster requires skilled application and periodic maintenance, so it's not a low-effort finish. For anyone renovating a heritage property under preservation guidelines, though, it's practically a requirement in Kyoto's protected districts.

2. Exposed Cherry Wood Beams

Why It Stands Out

Structural cherry wood beams run through the interiors of both the main house and the annex, left exposed to celebrate the material's natural grain and warm tone. Sukiya architecture has always treated timber as both structure and decoration simultaneously. kooo architects honored that principle by refusing to conceal the beams behind dropped ceilings or cladding.

The annex pairs these original salvaged beams with a simple white color scheme on walls and ceilings. That deliberate contrast lets the wood's natural warmth become the focal point of each room. According to architect and preservation specialist Kengo Kuma, "The goal of Japanese architecture has always been to make space disappear so that nature becomes the protagonist." The exposed beams in this Narutaki home serve exactly that function, drawing the eye toward organic texture rather than constructed surfaces.

Things to Consider

Cherry wood is beautiful but requires climate control. Kyoto's humid summers and dry winters create expansion and contraction cycles that can stress exposed timber over decades. The renovation team at Azp Inc. handled the construction, presumably accounting for these seasonal shifts, but long-term maintenance will be the owners' responsibility.

3. Custom Fusuma Sliding Doors by Noda Hanga Studio

Why It Stands Out

Mass-produced sliding doors are readily available in Japan. kooo architects chose a different path, commissioning Noda Hanga Studio to create bespoke fusuma for the earthen-floored passage connecting the main house to the annex. These doors serve as more than room dividers. They function as thresholds between the home's historical and contemporary zones.

Fusuma have been central to Japanese residential architecture for over 600 years, allowing rooms to transform from private to communal in seconds. In a home spanning 323.59 m² total, the ability to reconfigure space without permanent walls is especially valuable. The handcrafted quality also supports the broader Japanese interior design principle that every object should carry the mark of human hands.

Who It's Best For

Anyone who values flexible living spaces and artisan craftsmanship will connect with this detail. Custom fusuma aren't cheap, and finding skilled studios outside Japan is difficult. For heritage renovations specifically, they're one of the most effective ways to maintain spatial authenticity.

4. The Dedicated Garden-Viewing Room

Why It Stands Out

Here's where the project makes its boldest statement. kooo architects dedicated an entire room in the main house to a single activity: watching the garden. No storage, no secondary program, no furniture arrangement competing for attention. Just a space designed to frame the seasonal landscape of western Kyoto's Rakusei area.

Allocating square meters to pure contemplation is a luxury most residential renovations can't justify. Yet the decision reflects a core wabi-sabi value, the idea that stillness and emptiness have as much purpose as function and productivity. The wabi-sabi home decor market in Asia Pacific was valued at approximately $290 million in 2024, with projections reaching $490 million by 2033, according to ConsaInsights [2]. Growing consumer demand for spaces that prioritize mental wellness over material accumulation supports exactly this kind of design choice.

"Wabi-sabi is the art of finding beauty in imperfection and accepting the natural cycle of growth and decay. A room that exists only to observe nature embodies this philosophy completely."
— Leonard Koren, author of Wabi-Sabi: for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers

Things to Consider

A garden room only works if the garden itself is maintained. Inada Landscape handled the landscape design for this project, and Uetoh Zohen Co., Ltd. managed the construction. The seasonal plantings require year-round care. Without that commitment, the room's purpose diminishes quickly.

5. The Custom-Built Waterfall

Why It Stands Out

kooo architects took advantage of the site's natural slope to construct a waterfall between the detached annex and the main house. Residents can experience the sound and visual movement of flowing water directly from the main living room. Few residential renovations integrate water features this intimately into the architectural plan.

The site itself covers 1,637.02 m², giving the architects room to work with topography rather than against it. Traditional Japanese garden design has incorporated water elements for centuries, but positioning a waterfall so that it becomes audible and visible from interior living spaces elevates the feature from decorative to experiential. Renovation costs for traditional Kyoto homes typically range from ¥5 million to ¥20 million ($33,000 to $132,000), though custom features like this one push budgets considerably higher.

Who It's Best For

Properties on sloped terrain with adequate space are obvious candidates. The feature requires plumbing infrastructure, drainage planning, and ongoing water management. For anyone designing a meditative home environment, a built-in water feature delivers sensory richness that no decorative object can match.

6. Hinoki Wood Baths in the Annex

Why It Stands Out

The annex, which is entirely new construction, contains hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood baths that transform bathing from routine hygiene into a ritualistic experience. Hinoki releases a distinctive fragrance when exposed to warm water, and the wood's natural antibacterial properties make it ideal for wet environments. High-quality hinoki bathtubs typically cost between $3,000 and $8,000 depending on size and craftsmanship.

Pairing new construction materials with restored historical elements in the adjacent main house could easily feel disjointed. The success of this annex lies in how seamlessly it communicates with the older structure across the earthen passage connecting them. Three guest rooms and a lounge facing the main house complete the annex's function as a private villa within the larger property.

Things to Consider

Hinoki requires regular oiling and ventilation to prevent mold and cracking. The wood's beauty comes with maintenance demands that synthetic alternatives don't carry. In Kyoto's humid climate, proper bathroom ventilation is non-negotiable for preserving these baths over time.

7. Translucent Window Screens

Why It Stands Out

The annex's translucent window screens soften incoming daylight into something closer to atmosphere than illumination. Rather than flooding rooms with direct sunlight, these panels create a diffused, warm glow that shifts throughout the day. The effect aligns with traditional shoji screens but uses contemporary materials for improved durability and insulation.

According to interior designer Axel Vervoordt, "The most beautiful light is the light you almost cannot see. It's about shadow and suggestion, not brightness." The screens at House in Narutaki embody this philosophy, filtering western Kyoto's abundant natural light into gentle, ever-changing patterns across the annex's white walls and cherry wood surfaces.

Who It's Best For

South and west-facing rooms that receive intense afternoon sun benefit most from translucent screening. The approach works particularly well in bedrooms and bathing spaces where harsh light disrupts relaxation. For renovators balancing privacy with natural light, these screens offer an elegant middle ground.

Comprehensive Design Comparison

How Does This Renovation Reflect Wabi-Sabi Principles?

Wabi-sabi is a Japanese aesthetic philosophy centered on accepting impermanence, incompleteness, and imperfection. kooo architects didn't strip the Narutaki house down to a blank canvas. They selectively removed decades of poorly coordinated alterations to recover the spatial clarity the original Sukiya structure once carried. The distinction matters because wabi-sabi renovation isn't about making something new. It's about revealing what was always there.

Kyoto's preservation codes reinforce this approach by requiring renovations in designated historical districts to maintain original architectural features. Grants and subsidies through programs like the Machiya Renovation Project help offset costs, encouraging property owners to restore rather than demolish. The result across the city has been a growing portfolio of homes that honor tradition while functioning for contemporary life.

Final Verdict

This crumbling Kyoto home was rebuilt as a wabi-sabi sanctuary that succeeds because kooo architects understood a critical distinction: preservation doesn't mean replication. The seven design details highlighted here, from Juraku plaster to translucent window screens, work together because each one serves both a functional role and a philosophical one. The renovation covers 323.59 m² across two connected structures on a generous 1,637 m² site, with construction by Azp Inc. and landscape work by Inada Landscape and Uetoh Zohen Co., Ltd.

Whether the balance between historical sensitivity and modern livability holds over years of daily use remains to be seen. The framework, however, is sound. For anyone considering a heritage renovation that respects the past without becoming trapped by it, House in Narutaki sets a remarkably clear standard.

Sources:
[1] Renub Research, Japan Interior Design Market Forecast 2025-2033
[2] ConsaInsights, Wabi Sabi Home Decor Market Report 2024-2033

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sukiya architectural style?

Sukiya architecture is a Japanese building tradition that grew out of tea ceremony culture. Sukiya-style homes feature timber construction, open spatial flow, natural materials like wood and plaster, and rooms designed for contemplation rather than display. The style emphasizes harmony between interior spaces and surrounding nature, making it closely aligned with wabi-sabi principles.

Who designed the House in Narutaki renovation?

kooo architects, led by Ichijo-toma, designed and supervised the renovation. Construction was handled by Azp Inc., landscape design by Inada Landscape, landscape construction by Uetoh Zohen Co., Ltd., and the custom fusuma sliding doors were crafted by Noda Hanga Studio. Photography of the completed project was captured by Keishin Horikoshi/SS.

How large is the renovated Kyoto home?

The total renovation area spans 323.59 m², split between the main house at 199.29 m² and the new annex at 124.30 m². The property sits on a 1,637.02 m² site in Kyoto's Narutaki district, which includes extensive gardens and the custom-built waterfall feature between the two structures.

What materials were used in the renovation?

Key materials include Juraku plaster on walls and ceilings, exposed cherry wood beams, hinoki (Japanese cypress) for the annex's bathtubs, and translucent window screens for light diffusion. All finishing work was completed by local craftspeople rather than standardized contractors, maintaining the artisan quality central to Sukiya tradition.

How much does it cost to renovate a traditional Kyoto home?

Renovation costs for traditional homes in Kyoto typically range from ¥5 million to ¥20 million ($33,000 to $132,000), according to Cities Insider. Custom features like built-in waterfall channels, artisan-crafted fusuma doors, and hinoki wood baths push costs significantly beyond these baseline estimates. Kyoto's local government offers grants and subsidies through preservation programs to offset some expenses for qualifying properties.