House S is a minimalist residence located in Kyoto, Japan, designed by Kimura Matsumoto. Given the surrounding environment, the building opens to the north side, while keeping the main structural elements on the south side where it is unlikely for the environment to change in the future. The design uses a basic module of a “fishbone” frame with l-shaped wooden trusses on the south side and another twice as wide alternating to form a double grid. By using the trusses extending to the north as boundaries to create the second story and mezzanine, given the extended height of the first story, the residence, store, workshop and café were formed as separate spaces, each with its own character.

Photography by shinkenchikusha