Atelier Boronski, a Japanese architectural firm headed by a New Zealand-born architect educated in both countries, designed this sophisticated riverside villa located in Kyoto, Japan.
The home covers a total area of 230 square meters, and is situated in a quiet street that still enjoys the advantage of being close by to the city center. Surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and bakeries, and only a short walk away from the museum district, which is populated with temples and shrines, the location of this private residence could not be more optimal.
The owners, a well-traveled couple, sought to build a home that would be simple and easy to take care of, but that would still feel like home and encompass a bit of everything that they had loved about what they’d seen around the world.
The back of the home, overlooking the river, is made of glass walls, which allows for a comfortable lookout into the pleasant scenery.
View in galleryView in galleryExterior facade with woodView in galleryView in galleryModern facade with wood
Inside, the home is made up of mostly three materials – wood, concrete, and black iron. Light-colored wood covers a portion of the floors as well as some of the ceiling; concrete is visible on the remaining floors, walls, and some of the ceiling. Finally, the black iron is used for the stair steps and railings, as well as for some exposed ceiling and wall beams which serve to add the otherwise minimalist and completely elegant space a touch of modern industrialism.
View in galleryView in galleryLiving room with glass wallView in galleryView in galleryLiving room with glass wallView in galleryView in galleryView of the living room from the stairsView in galleryView in galleryLiving room-dining room and kitchen with both floors and ceiling in woodView in galleryView in galleryKitchen with concrete mural and countertopView in galleryView in galleryDining room with wooden tableView in galleryView in galleryModern metal staircaseView in galleryView in galleryModern metal staircaseView in galleryView in galleryModern metal staircaseView in galleryView in galleryModern metal staircaseView in galleryView in galleryModern metal staircaseView in galleryView in galleryBedroom with glass wallView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryBedroom with glass wall connecting to the bathroomView in galleryView in galleryBedroom with glass wall connecting to the bathroomView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryModern bathroom with concrete countertopView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryNocturnal view of the exteriorView in galleryView in galleryNocturnal view of the exteriorView in galleryView in galleryNocturnal view of the exteriorView in galleryView in galleryNocturnal view of the exteriorView in galleryView in galleryNocturnal view of the exteriorView in galleryView in galleryNocturnal view of the exteriorView in galleryView in galleryNocturnal view of the exteriorView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in gallery
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Exterior facade with wood
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Modern facade with wood
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Living room with glass wall
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Living room with glass wall
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View of the living room from the stairs
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Living room-dining room and kitchen with both floors and ceiling in wood
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Kitchen with concrete mural and countertop
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Dining room with wooden table
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Modern metal staircase
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Modern metal staircase
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Modern metal staircase
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Modern metal staircase
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Modern metal staircase
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Bedroom with glass wall
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Bedroom with glass wall connecting to the bathroom
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Bedroom with glass wall connecting to the bathroom