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Tato Architects' Kyoto House Uses Silver Ceilings to Draw Light In

architecture-design · 2026-08-27

Tato Architects has finalized the House in Shichiku, a private dwelling in Kyoto, Japan, designed for a couple and their feline companion. Situated at the end of a narrow alley on the site of the client's childhood residence, the house showcases a gabled structure clad in metal, complemented by four wedge-shaped gardens. Yo Shimada, the founder, crafted the interior to align with the local grid, resulting in an angular kitchen, living area, and study surrounding a central dining space. The ground floor boasts full-height windows that provide views of the gardens, while the upper level features corrugated metal cladding. Bedrooms on the first floor are arranged around a central hallway, and a wooden door regulates the cat's entry. This project was highlighted on Dezeen, with photography by Tato Architects.

Key facts

  • House in Shichiku is a private home in Kyoto designed by Tato Architects.
  • The home is for a couple and their cat.
  • The site was previously occupied by the client's childhood home.
  • The house has a metal-clad gabled form, rotated in plan.
  • Four wedge-shaped gardens are created at the edges.
  • Ground floor ceilings are just over two meters high and painted with reflective silver.
  • The upper floor is wrapped in lauan plywood.
  • A wooden door can close the staircase to control the cat's movement.

Entities

Artists

  • Yo Shimada

Institutions

  • Tato Architects
  • Dezeen

Locations

  • Kyoto
  • Japan

Sources