Japanese paper

This family retreat on Hawaii’s Big Island takes the form of several canopy-like pavilions dispersed around the site, linked by elevated wooden lanais and a series of gardens. Hale Lana, which translates to “floating home,” appears to hover over the site’s lava fields and dense gardens. The home takes a position at the ecotone line between the heavily landscaped area, and the expansive ocean views which stretch to Haleakalā volcano on nearby Maui. The ultimate design goal was to balance transparency and enclosure to create a home that would function for the couple, their extended family, and for large gatherings, while maximizing connection to the Hawaiian climate and landscape. Nic Lehoux The entry approach wi... More

We has completed a house in higashi kakogawa, japan, with a layer of angled wooden louvers on its façade that secure enough privacy. the building takes the form of an archetypal house shape, complete with a gable roof and floor-to-ceiling glass façade at the front. its construction comprises a simple wooden frame structure, while the architects have wrapped its exterior with galvalume steel plates to protect it from the wind and rain.   We has slightly rotated the direction of the house’s layout at an angle, to ensure privacy from the neighboring buildings. we have also built a wooden fence on the south side of the site to block visual any contact between passersby and the residence. additionally, the angled woode... More

“Gradation in the Forest” is a summer house in a forest. In this area, the formation of the beautiful scenery by the regulations is advanced. The forest is composed of Japanese larch trees with straight vertical silhouettes, and the houses stand calmly and sparsely in the forest. This house, “Gradation in the Forest”, is part of a collection of small spaces, as if the house might melt into the environment of the woods. There are no big towns within walking distance and residents have more time to spend in the house. So, various spaces were prepared in order to make the living environment rich.   In “Gradation in the Forest”, a gradual change of the quality of spaces has been made, as shown in... More

This is a house for a couple of French artist (husband) and Japanese wife who are based in Japan, France and the United States and very interested in aesthetic of Japanese garden, culture and architecture.   The house is nestled quietly on the top of hill in Kamakura in Japan, a historic ancient city, and facing to wonderful scenery, overlooking the Shonan coastline and facing Mt. Fuji, a symbol of Japan, in the distance.   The clients became interested in Japanese culture through Japanese Tea Celemony and Japanese garden gradually for long time. Finally they decided to move in Japan. This is a place for them to settle and live to the end with their dream.   In addition to their comfort in the house, they required a fun... More

We renovated the Kyoto townhouse, which is about 120 years old. It is a guesthouse rented as a whole. The concept of "mugen plus" is that families including children can stay comfortably. Since the floor height is slightly different, various gaps and steps are created. They allow visitors to discover diverse views. We inserted a "cylinder" with a wooden panel into a typical Kyoto townhouse. The "cylinder" vaguely partitions the interior of the Kyoto townhouse, creating continuity and transparency. In addition, visitors can experience various spaces inside “mugen plus” by going back and forth through the openings provided on the side and top of the cylinder.   We have prepared a variety of spaces, such as a rough clay wall... More

The interior designing of a fashion boutique located off the hustle and bustle of Shijo-dori Street in Kyoto.   As you must walk through “Omoya” or the main building on the street to get to the shop, you can only see “noren,” a curtain-like cloth hung over the entrance of a shop, from outside, but once you walk past “noren” and along the path, you come to the two-storied “Hanare” or annex with two gardens.   Inside the shop is softly illuminated by natural light and we try to make the most of the light.  The light is diffused by lauan board coated with “washi” or Japanese paper, and the struck brass and the aluminum expanded metal provide rhythmical shades. &nbs... More

Arize Hotel was launched its first branch on Sukhumvit 26 Road, which the main target is Japanese expatriates. Later on the owners anticipated the opportunity in Sriracha where there is an industrial estate in the area, plus it is a strong base of Japanese business people. The hotel consists of 379 guestrooms. In order to serve the long stay guests, in some room types, there are additional facilities and space further than the standard hotel. Meanwhile, the design of the hotel should conform with context and characteristic of beach city.   At the early design stage the project was planned to be a twenty two floor building that broadened all over the land but, after receiving the information, the architects decided to propose contrari... More

The Journey Begins with a Suitcase – Labvert Designs Rimowa Flagship Store in Tokyo Tokyo's Ginza district is famous for its fine department stores and luxury brands. Soon, it will house a new attraction as the legendary German luggage manufacturer Rimowa will open a centrally located 500 m2 flagship store. To perfectly present the suitcases with their iconic groove design, a store landscape has been created in which high-quality, Western design harmonizes with Japanese cultural traditions. This Zen-inspired shopping oasis is the creation of the Architecture and Design Studio Labvert, under the direction of Stephan Vary.   In order to attract attention in the vibrant street life of the Japanese metropolis, architect Stephan Va... More

Chūō-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka ― a central location filled with office buildings housing major companies, luxury car dealerships, and showrooms for furniture and other goods. On a narrow street just off Midōsuji, there is an alley that still bears traces of the Showa era. At its far end is located Nisui, a members-only gyoza (pot sticker) restaurant. The weighty finishing of the plaster uses a black base with colored pounce to create a lush ambience that fits in with the atmosphere of the alley, although the restaurant has only a short distance from the entrance to the rear. In the center, we installed an opening just high enough to duck through, suggesting a tea ceremony room, and doors with washi (traditional Japanese paper) bol... More

A private house in Gifu prefecture which consists of traditional Japanese rooms and modern style LDK (Living, Dining and Kitchen). Japanese rooms are to be used in multiple way, sleeping, chilling, funeral etc. Doors of Japanese rooms are shoji of "taiko-bari" (wrapped by Japanese paper like a drum) so that frames of shoji are blurred in daytime and clarified at night. More

Context The project concerns the interior design of an atelier which was used as by an artist, on whom we realized a new space of work as archives. © Photography by 11h45 © Photography by 11h45 Concept These existing spaces intended in office/archives which are used by the artist reminded us first to use of the natural light coming from skylight. We created this project by using the panels of the expanded metal and throwing of the Japanese paper pulp which will give a soft atmosphere to the space of former industrial inspiration. The workspace will be lit by the natural light through this expanded metal. © Photography by 11h45 © Photography by 11h45 The screens were prepared in western France by Y... More

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.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.In realizing a space encouraging the visitors to... More

This project consisted in the renovationof an old Japanese house in Sakura city, Chiba prefecture, Japan. The very low genkan (entrance porch) leads into a double-height living room flanked by wide engawa (side porches) protected by wide glazed openings. With celling heights that range from 1.8m to 5m, we wanted to create a variety of interior scales, and a place beyond the framework of the ‘housing’ architectural genre.One of the main concerns was to ensure that,while every room is distinct, the spatial experience is that of a continuous whole. This is mainly pursued through the careful use of materials, textiles and lighting fixtures, whereby every room can share a common identity despite the differences in scale.Since this is the place w... More