Kyoto Xiaoman / Koyori + Aterier Salt

Kyoto Xiaoman / Koyori + Aterier Salt - Interior Photography, Door, WindowsKyoto Xiaoman / Koyori + Aterier Salt - Interior Photography, WindowsKyoto Xiaoman / Koyori + Aterier Salt - Interior Photography, Door, Facade, WindowsKyoto Xiaoman / Koyori + Aterier Salt - Interior Photography, WindowsKyoto Xiaoman / Koyori + Aterier Salt - More Images+ 24

  • Architects: Aterier Salt, Koyori
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  91
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2017
  • Photographs
    Photographs:Junichi Usui
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Lighting Sou, NEW LIGHT POTTERY, SAWANABE
  • Contractor: IWAKI STAYLE, Sakuma Shigemitsu
  • Architects In Charge: Masahiko Nakamura, Yoji Fujiwara
  • Art Director: Wataru Hatano
  • Kurotani Washi: Wataru Hatano
  • Lighting Plan: NEW LIGHT POTTERY
  • Plasterwork: Hiroaki Obata
  • Clients: Xiaoman Hsieh
  • City: Kyoto
  • Country: Japan
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Kyoto Xiaoman / Koyori + Aterier Salt - Exterior Photography, Door, Windows, Facade
© Junichi Usui

Text description provided by the architects. Kyoto Xiaoman is a Taiwanese tea salon and gallery built by renovating a machiya, or Japanese traditional townhouse built near Kyoto Goen more than 80 years ago. The owner’s request was to create a simple, delicate space where salon visitors can find scenes and backgrounds of Taiwanese teas.

Kyoto Xiaoman / Koyori + Aterier Salt - Interior Photography, Windows
© Junichi Usui
Kyoto Xiaoman / Koyori + Aterier Salt - Image 29 of 29
First Level Plan
Kyoto Xiaoman / Koyori + Aterier Salt - Interior Photography, Door, Facade, Windows
© Junichi Usui

Just as she weaves background stories and origins of teas while serving them, she desired a place where visitors can not merely enjoy drinking tea but also explore the world of tea—taste and smell, mountains and forests, lively alpine animals and plants, and lives of harvesters and their history. Given such request, we sought a balance between the desired space and the potential of the existing building.

Kyoto Xiaoman / Koyori + Aterier Salt - Image 22 of 29
© Junichi Usui

In realizing a space encouraging the visitors to feel tea leaves grown in the bosom of nature, we selected materials which would show different faces in ever-changing time, weather and seasons, and develop flavors as they age. We have also taken note of the scales and details to maximize their fine qualities.

Kyoto Xiaoman / Koyori + Aterier Salt - Interior Photography, Windows
© Junichi Usui

With due respect to the way machiya ought to be and its scale, we have then added functions for the gallery and the Taiwanese tea salon and surrounded the space by plastering, using natural materials including mud walls and Kyoto Kurotani Washi (traditional Japanese paper) which change over time.

Kyoto Xiaoman / Koyori + Aterier Salt - Interior Photography, Table, Windows, Chair
© Junichi Usui

Furnishing the opening with Shoji door to suit any occasion, time period and weather conditions, the lighting plans have been designed to harmonize with the use of space and the reflection of light coming in from the opening. This place will be a new cultural center where Japanese culture wafting from this traditional building of machiya and the owner’s concept of Taiwanese tea culture blend together. Lightweight sliding wooden doors covered with Japanese traditional paper which allows light to pass through.

Kyoto Xiaoman / Koyori + Aterier Salt - Image 17 of 29
© Junichi Usui

Project gallery

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Project location

Address:Sainokamicho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 602-0814, Japan

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Kyoto Xiaoman / Koyori + Aterier Salt" 01 Feb 2019. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/910501/kyoto-xiaoman-koyori-plus-aterier-salt> ISSN 0719-8884

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