House of Kohaku

House of Kohaku

Kohaku

Kohaku, Amber in Japanese, describes a warm yellow colour named after the fossilized resin of ancient trees, as well as an amorphous substance that represents a time capsule from the past.

the site

Situated within a conservational area of Blackheath, the house forms the quiet terminus of its cul-de-sac. Precisely oriented west-east, with the railway as its defining axis, it is cradled within a ribbon of green.

Before

Knock down

project background

The house was built in the 1970s, one of many such properties conceived for the buy-to-let market, a function it served without interruption until the present owners acquired it.

owners portrait

Their lives are oriented by certain inclinations: an interest in Japanese culture, a practice of animal care—evident in their weekend visits to a shelter to walk the dogs—and an appreciation for the sensibility of wabi-sabi.

Years of living in central London eventually produced in them a desire for one of the city's quieter, greener localities. This shift in circumstance coincided with the practical possibility of adopting a dog, Siu Bak, from the shelter they frequented.

Their search ended with a house in an established, tranquil neighbourhood. They approached us with the task of making it suitable—for their own lives, and for the life of Siu Bak.

Siu Bak

owners reflection

‘This will be Siu Bak’s first proper indoor home—a place where she will finally have a space of her own.’

‘We would like to have a home without clutter.’

'We love rewinding with nature, making tea, and quiet moments… and we both like to play video games - we will have a large TV in the living room.'

...

‘There is an awkward step in the middle of the ground floor that interrupts the space…’

Before

SPATIAL OBSERVATION

The two-storey structure is characterized by a modest ceiling height and a subdued quality of natural light, a condition dictated by the proportion of its apertures and its internal compartmentalization.

A level change of 400mm distinguishes the dining and living areas. This transition is mediated by two steps, which asserts a firm demarcation between the two zones, thereby defining and separating their respective functions.

In Progress

renovation
consideration

The renovation is organised around the principle of permeability, a response both to the building's compartmentalised plan and to the anticipated needs of the dog, Siu Bak, who is presumably accustomed to a semi-sheltered environment. A clear visual and physical connection from the front door to the rear garden is essential, a strategy intended to provide a sense of continuity with the outdoors upon entering the domestic interior.

Selective demolition at the ground level will be undertaken to unify the plan, transforming it into a singular, cohesive gathering space. This reconfiguration will allow the room to be flooded with natural light from multiple aspects.

The existing 400mm level change presented a dilemma: while its presence was problematic, raising the floor to eliminate it would have further compromised the modest ceiling height. The solution was to retain the change in level, but to soften its articulation—allowing the step to become a transitional threshold rather than a definitive boundary.

A Morning in the Kitchen

Research: On Atmosphere, Abstraction and Emotion

Taking a scenographic approach, we explore the possibility of conveying a mood, an atmosphere and a feeling in relation to home. Addressing the needs of its occupants, we focus on the fundamentals of offering comfort, physically and visually, while considering this environment as a medium that takes them to where they aspire to be in their state of mind.

' I enter a building, see a room, and

in the fraction of a second

have this feeling about it

What is it that makes me feel this way?

The physical, the sensory, the spiritual, the aesthetic, the atmospheric

they are all there at the same time

I believe that in the end

the finished building lives from the quality of its basic idea and the consistency with which this idea is pursued right down

to the smallest details.'

Zumthor, P. (2006).
Atmospheres: Architectural Environments. Surrounding Objects. Basel: Birkhäuser.

View More Research

tonality
exploration

The design facilitates a slower, deliberate domestic life of awareness and ritual. The plan is organised to minimise visual clutter, framing moments of quietude and connection.

For instance, a genkan-inspired entry sequence provides utility while formally marking the transition from public to private, from the external world to the inner landscape.

The material palette consists of natural, tactile surfaces that induce a state of clam. Spaces are treated as primary volumes, with emptiness valued over occupation to accentuate light and architectural form. Introducing elements like paper lanterns, or candles introduce a gentle, temporal animation to the static structure.