This guesthouse was designed for a privileged location in northern Kyoto Prefecture, offering expansive views of Amanohashidate—one of Japan’s Three Scenic Views (Nihon Sankei).
It comprises three rooms: two standard guest rooms and one room with a private sauna, stacked vertically in a compact but layered configuration.
The site is located on the periphery of the main tourist area—slightly removed from the busy center. The surrounding context includes a moderate density of buildings, along with some larger, more loosely organized roadside structures.
The area is also subject to local scenic regulations, requiring adherence to design codes such as tiled roofs, setback rules, and color restrictions.
In this project, we considered multiple viewpoints beyond the typical streetscape: aerial views from higher ground, eye-level views from passing cars, and even distant perspectives from the sea (boats).
Our goal was to respond appropriately and evenly to all of these viewpoints through careful control of form and scale.
The street-facing facade was segmented to resemble a row of traditional townhouses, contributing to a more articulated streetscape.
This division also helped avoid a monotonous mass while allowing service functions—such as restrooms, wash areas, and storage—to be pushed to the front side, thereby clarifying the main room layout.
On the other hand, the sea-facing elevation was designed with the calm presence of a moored boat in mind, aiming for a quiet and composed impression.
The guest rooms are arranged with kitchen, dining, and a deck garden on the ground floor, and bedrooms with open-air baths on the second floor.
The first floor was designed as a cozy, private space equipped with a large dining table, generous storage, and high-quality appliances to accommodate long-term stays.
On the second floor, we designed a continuous 11.6-meter-long space connecting the bedroom to the open-air bath, ensuring clear sightlines and a smooth flow of movement.
The open-air bath, which is visible from the bedroom, includes an external louver and an interior motorized roll screen to maintain privacy and comfort.
Furthermore, the height of the bathtub, desk, window sill, and bed were carefully aligned to create a spatial composition where the upper half of the body experiences openness, while the lower half is enveloped in a sense of calm and enclosure.
In this maisonette-style room of just under 70 square meters, we intentionally minimized the floor area equivalent to a typical residential living room. Instead, we expanded and enriched other areas to provide a unique, extraordinary living experience.
By meticulously adjusting spatial scales and details both inside and out, we aimed to create architecture that offers a distinctive experience befitting this remarkable location.