Paper lantern glowing in a wooden hallway with glass doors opening to a courtyard garden

A machiya’s rebirth

Inspired by the daily rhythm of Kyoto, Maana Kamo slows down modern life along the historical river, tuning into the vibrant colors, sounds, and bustle of the city.

A designer’s favorite, this home blurs the line between art and architecture, turning a traditional machiya into a sleek and seamless space that demands a fresh identity.

Ceramic vase on a wooden shelf beside a dark plastered wall with soft window light

Architecture

Sleek and expansive, Maana Kamo redefines intentional living within its original frame that echoes the beauty and soul of its 100-year history.

Maana Kamo is one of the first projects that pushed the boundaries of machiya design. The original house was found in a neglected condition covered in vinyl wallcoverings, tile ceilings, and broken floorboards, an invitation to help shed its old identity.

An urushi lacquered kitchen island and a dramatically oversized onsen-style bathtub sits at the heart of the home, made for cooking together, soaking for too long, and staying in.

Interior

Opening up new perspectives in space and light, Maana Kamo is an intimate home that reflects Kyoto’s delicate balance between traditional and contemporary living.

An urushi lacquered kitchen island and a dramatically oversized onsen-style bathtub sits at the heart of the home, made for cooking together, soaking for too long, and staying in.

Interior elements are pulled back and minimum, with antiques and artisanal crafts holding presence within the home, while Kyoto continues to echo and evolve outside.

Dimly lit wooden hallway with warm overhead light and plastered walls
Were it not for shadows, there would be no beauty
Jun’ichirō Tanizaki, In Praise of Shadows
Tatami room with open shoji screens framing autumn foliage through a wide window