Curved Timber Core Defines Spatial Flow in Kyoto Residence
Ujizono Architects utilizes a central wooden volume to balance privacy and openness in Sugi House.
1Project Context and Site
Completed in January 2026, Sugi House occupies an 83.91-square-meter site in Kyoto near Yoshida Shrine. Designed by Ujizono Architects, the residence features 94.87 square meters of total floor space. The exterior presents a restrained wooden box facade, blending into the neighborhood while utilizing shadows to create depth beneath the projecting upper story.
2Vertical Spatial Organization
Architects Kazuki Ujigawa and Mirai Ozono established a clear contrast between the two levels. The ground floor houses three private bedrooms and a bathroom in an enclosed arrangement. A rear staircase facilitates the transition to the upper floor, where communal living, cooking, and dining areas are situated beneath a pitched ceiling.
3The Curved Timber Core
The central curved timber core serves as the primary architectural anchor for the upper level. It partially separates the living area from the kitchen and dining zone while concealing a ladder-like stair leading to a mezzanine. This element creates purposeful circulation paths, effectively defining different activity zones without requiring traditional fixed corridors.
4Dynamic Visual Connectivity
Movement around the curved core continuously alters the occupant's perspective, revealing and concealing different parts of the home. A lowered ceiling above the kitchen area further reinforces this distinction in proportions. These design choices allow family members to remain aware of one another while occupying separate spaces, maintaining a sense of shared presence.
5Light and Privacy Strategy
The design prioritizes high-level windows to admit deep natural light while preventing direct overlooking from neighboring properties. This approach maintains interior openness without relying on extensive outward-facing glass. Exposed timber rafters beneath the pitched roof provide a legible structure, enhancing the overhead volume and supporting the overall sense of spatial clarity.
6Flexible Boundary Management
The architects incorporated adjustable curtains to provide temporary boundaries between floors and distinct zones. This strategy allows residents to modify their level of privacy based on specific activities rather than relying on permanent wall structures. Such flexibility ensures that the compact floor plan remains adaptable to the evolving needs of the family.
7Architectural Middle Ground
Sugi House demonstrates a sophisticated middle ground between open-plan living and cellular room arrangements. By using a central volume to divide space, the architects avoid the blank openness often found in compact residences. The design successfully balances the need for distinct functional zones with the desire for a cohesive, interconnected living environment.
8Impact of Core-Centric Design
The curved core acts as a persuasive architectural move, transforming circulation into a functional experience. By centering the shared floor around this volume, the project proves that compact urban homes can achieve spatial complexity. This methodology highlights how strategic geometry can replace traditional walls to foster both privacy and social interaction.
Original article: Yanko Design — Curved Timber Core Defines Spatial Flow in Kyoto Residence