KimuraMatsumoto Architects' House S/Shop B (ba hütte) in Kyoto redefines a compact urban plot, merging shop, bar, and residence in a space that dissolves boundaries between private and public life.
Situated on a 2.2- to 3.7-meter deep plot with an impressive 18-meter-wide frontage, the architecture faces a busy main road lined with mixed-use buildings and tree-shaded sidewalks. This intricate layering of space results in a building that engages directly with the street, establishing a fluid boundary between public and private realms, where the building's structure and the adjacent urban landscape appear intertwined.
A significant feature of this project is its approach to pedestrian engagement, challenging conventional separations between a building's façade and the public sidewalk. Drawing from the organic, bustling street culture of Asian cities, House S/Shop B employs a unique "shallow-to-deep" concept, which converts the constrained depth of the site into a spatial experience that feels expansive and inviting. This concept invites pedestrians to naturally gravitate toward the shop—a place that sells used books, assorted goods, and includes a standing bar—thereby reactivating the sidewalk and encouraging casual community interaction. Here, the standing bar offers a locus for the community, recalling the convivial spirit of street vendors and small markets that weave seamlessly into the city’s social fabric.
The architectural expression relies heavily on the interplay of structure and material, using a lightweight, broad wooden frame with a 450-millimeter width. This frame not only establishes the physical space but also sets a dynamic contrast against the narrow depth, while blending visually with the adjacent university's trees and roadside flora. The building stands as both a practical and symbolic structure, capturing the transitory yet rooted nature of urban life in Kyoto. It balances the needs of private life above and commercial activity below, allowing for a reciprocal exchange between the space and the community.
