In the historic district of Narutaki in Kyoto, kooo architects has reinterpreted a Sukiya-style house, the archetypal Japanese dwelling inspired by tea houses and characterised by minimalism, natural materials (wood, paper, stone) and a seamless connection between architecture and landscape. The project consists of the restoration of the original building, set within a lush garden, and the construction of an annexe on the western edge of the plot, separated (yet symbolically connected) by a waterfall flowing down the slope and bringing nature into the domestic rituals. To meet the demands of contemporary living, the layout of the historic house has been reorganised through the removing of fragmented partitions and the redefinition of the space around three main areas: the earthen-floored corridor (doma), the reception area and the living area opening onto the garden through the traditional portico (engawa). Inside, the design vocabulary celebrates the local building culture in an almost “philological” way: tatami mats, sliding doors made of opaque paper (fusuma) and surfaces finished in traditional Juraku plaster create a space with a soothing atmosphere and a timeless charm.