KTX archilab completes cloud of luster, a wedding chapel in himeji, japan

located in himeji, a japanese city close to osaka, cloud of luster by KTX archilab is a wedding chapel inspired by the modern wedding ceremonies in japan. these are all about lightness, brightness, and the smooth transition towards a happy future family life. to recall these feelings, the architecture practice led by tetsuya matsumoto knew that the design needed to be naturally curvy, with open spaces that allowed abundant natural light to flood the interiors while installing imposing columns that add to the overall ceremonious feeling.

images by stirling elmendorf

the cloud of luster chapel by KTX archilab translates the contemporary wedding spirit into a physical space. rendered in white, the structure features a minimalistic ceiling, free of any technical equipment, supported by round columns with a hyperbolic cone head. enveloped around floor-to-ceiling glass panels, the interior opens up to the garden and an outside basin that adds more light and reflections to the chapel.

as for the flow, the outside approach connects the main ceremony hall building to the entrance of the chapel, creating a direct connection with the central aisle leading to the atrium. in the back, a semi closed space for the organ followed by the maintenance room where the air-conditioning and other pieces of machinery are placed. on the courtyard side the approach is elevated using steps like an amphitheater allowing to take group pictures on the sunny side of the court.

all together, cloud of luster aims to materialize the spirit of a wedding day into a physical space. the simplicity of the design, even if magnificent, wants to focus the attention on the newlywed couple, engraving that image on people’s mind. the organic shapes call for a more natural spirit and smoother life. no hard angles, no limit to the sky, a dreamy space where all can be possible.

project info:

name: cloud of luster 

architects: KTX archilab

location: himeji, japan

area: 244.6 sqm