locally sourced wood and traditional japanese joinery shape 2m26's horse stable in kyoto

2m26’s stable embraces local materials and design

Shaped entirely from locally sourced cypress and cedar and a celebration of traditional Japanese joinery, Umagoya comprises a spacious stable for two horses alongside a storage space amid the mountains of Keihoku, Japan. Kyoto-based architecture studio 2m26 has designed and built this project as a space where humans, horses, and nature can interconnect, seamlessly integrating the new stable structures with the existing old Japanese folk dwelling. The stable itself is topped by a gable roof and enclosed by climate-adaptive shutters that draw on the elements of Japanese temple design to regulate against the warm and cold weathers of the region.

2m26 integrates stable with traditional Japanese dwelling | all images by Yuki Okada

umagoya shelters people and horses against the climate

In its construction, the project embraces both local techniques and materials fused with traditional design elements. To begin with, the team at 2m26 has enclosed the entire ensemble of the Japanese home, outbuildings with thick soil walls and positioned Umagoya’s stables adjacent to a ‘kura’ — a Japanese style storage space. The whole structure and roof of each building is constructed out of locally sourced wood, with each piece assembled by traditional joinery techniques in order to ensure the project blends in with the spirit of encompassing structures. All ironwork has also been designed by the studio and realized by Japanese blacksmiths.

Further, both units sit on a stone basement while their floors have been shaped from a compressed soil and lime mix to allow the ground to breathe while also withstanding the movements of the horses. Along the facade, 2m26 has also integrated horizontal wooden shutters deriving from temple design, which can be lifted on four sides by metal L-shaped hinges to adapt to the climate. The feature can either widely open the stable to ease in light and ventilation or enclose it for protection in case of typhoons or heavy snow.

Umagoya sits adjacent to a ‘kura’ — a Japanese style storage space

in dialogue with the surrounding architecture

thick soil walls encompass the cluster of structures

traditional Japanese joinery shapes the stable

horizontal wooden shutters can be lifted on four sides by metal L-shaped hinges to adapt to the climate

set against the backdrop of Kyoto’s mountains

all ironwork has been designed by 2m26 and realized by Japanese blacksmiths

a cluster of gabled structures

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project info:

name: Umagoya
architecture: 2m26

design team: Mélanie Heresbach, Sébastien Renauld
location: Kyoto, Japan

photography: Yuki Okada

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: ravail khan | designboom