Kazushige Masuya · CLIENT: Kazushige Masuya
Jingumae Project is an apartment renovation in Harajuku, Tokyo, facing Togo Shrine. The L-shaped layout merges two units, and curved walls and ceilings improve movement through the home. Chestnut wood, stone and hand-blown glass are used with minimal surface treatment, so the natural textures remain visible. The sliding doors and other curved elements are carved from single pieces of solid wood. Parquet flooring and door details recall traditional Japanese lattice patterns. Earthy tones create a calm and elegant setting for urban living.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This apartment renovation facing Togo Shrine in Harajuku blends natural materials to create a modern East-meets-West design inspired by Taisho-era aesthetics. The L-shaped layout merges two units, with curved walls and ceilings enhancing flow. Materials like chestnut wood, stone, and hand-blown glass emphasize sustainability and craftsmanship. Earthy tones and natural accents create a serene yet elegant atmosphere, offering a new model for urban living that harmonizes nature and modern life.
- Tags
- Residence, apartment, natural materials, granite, solid wood, parquet, door
- Production Technology
- The sliding doors are crafted using a technique called sumimaru-gōshi, where the lattice is carved from a single piece of solid wood. Instead of attaching separately rounded pieces, the curves are directly shaped from one block of wood. This method achieves a simple yet elegant and softly refined impression.
Similarly, for other wooden elements, the curved (R-shaped) forms are also created by carving from single pieces of solid wood as much as possible, ensuring a sense of cohesion throughout the space. - Design Challenge
- Since this project began during the unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic, sourcing materials, furniture, and fixtures took far longer than expected. However, this situation allowed us to secure time for deep discussions with the client about fundamental questions: What truly makes a home livable? What defines comfort? As a result, the project became a kind of antithesis to the prevailing trend of prioritizing economic efficiency, prompting everyone involved to reconsider the essence of their work.
- Project Duration
- The project started in October 2022 and finished in November 2024.
- Research
- We were asked to reconsider the standard interior and architectural modules to ensure the client could live comfortably. Through discussions, we carefully reviewed factors such as circulation widths, dimensions at corners, and the overall flow of daily life. As a result, some areas required more generous spatial allowances than usual. However, upon completion, the client expressed great satisfaction, feeling that the space had become a truly unique environment tailored specifically for them.
- Inspiration
- We created a space that feels in harmony with nature, as if bringing the serene environment and greenery of the shrine into the interior. Specifically, surface treatments were kept to a minimum to highlight the natural textures of the materials. Inspired by traditional Japanese lattice doors and patterns, these design elements are reflected in the parquet flooring and door detailing.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Daiki Morita, ZOOM, 2024
Image #2: Photographer Daiki Morita, ZOOM, 2024
Image #3: Photographer Daiki Morita, ZOOM, 2024
Image #4: Photographer Daiki Morita, ZOOM, 2024
Image #5: Photographer Daiki Morita, ZOOM, 2024 - Patents
- Copyrights belong to Kazushige Masuya, 2024.
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