Where negative space becomes positive living.
The Kita Residence presented a unique challenge: a 280sqm penthouse in central Tokyo that demanded both the rigour of Japanese spatial philosophy and the sensory warmth of Scandinavian living.
Reconcile a client's desire for open, expansive living with the traditional Japanese principle of Ma — the intentional use of negative space. The result had to feel both grand and intimate.
We organised the plan around a central void: a skylit atrium that draws light deep into the residence while creating natural breathing room between private and social zones.
Hida Shunkei lacquerware, aged Hinoki cypress, and imported Carrara marble were combined with hand-woven Danish wool textiles — creating a tactile narrative that rewards close inspection.
