ukrainian aesthetics punctuate MAKHNO studio's kyoto house

inside kyoto house’s japanese-ukrainian fusion

Perfectly blending Japanese heritage with contemporary design, Kyoto House by MAKHNO Studio encapsulates the synergy of two cultures, inviting one to experience the essence of tea and life. The project nestles within Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, and sees the renovation of a century-old residence — transforming its spaces into a modern Japanese design with a touch of Ukrainian ceramic art. Throughout the process, lead architect and designer Serhii Makhno still sought to preserve and refine the traces of time left behind, paying homage to authentic elements, including original tatami mats and textured clay wall surfaces.

all images courtesy MAKHNO Studio

makhno studio preserves the house’s century-old atmosphere

Completed for a family with children, the renovated Kyoto House by MAKHNO Studio (see more here) welcomes guests and residences with tea action at the entrance to the house. There, a small tea garden, ‘Roji’, is adorned with Japanese ritual stones and Ukrainian DIDO art sculptures from the MAKHNO workshop. According to tales, these entities protect a house from sad thoughts and uninvited guests. ‘The meaning of the ‘Roji’ garden is that on your way to the master’s house, you linger and admire for a minute, opening your heart to restrained beauty and your thoughts to poetic images. And then the door of the house is slightly open. It means that you are expected,’ shares the studio.

office space at the renovated Kyoto House by MAKHNO Studio

Moving to the entrance hall, called ‘Genkan’ in a Japanese residence, one is invited to take off their shoes and turn them around until they leave. A multifunctional space, this part of Kyoto House features, on one side, the owner’s office filled with artwork and a nice for calligraphy tools; on the other side is a living room where guests are received. If they wish to stay overnight, he can lay out a couple of comfortable futons, which are traditional Japanese mattresses. On the way to that living room, a collectible of Japanese and Ukrainian art greets the visitor, nudging them to enter a spacious, bright area — the center of which is divided by a ‘Byobu’, a light Japanese screen.

According to the owner, the ‘Shoin-Zukuri’ or ‘study style’ of the Japanese house evokes the design of Zen monk and samurai dwellings of the 15th and 16th centuries. ‘It can always be recognized by its characteristic ‘shoji’ – sliding doors, as well as window and room partitions made of translucent sheets of rice paper in wooden frames. This is the first image that comes to mind when you think of Japanese interiors,’ notes MAKHNO Studio.

art pieces peppered across the workspace

reviving the traditional tea ceremony ritual at kyoto house

After a leisurely conversation, the host invites guests to the heart of Kyoto House – the tea room, or ‘Chashitsu’. Once a bedroom, this authentic tearoom reveals a true wabi-sabi spirit, decorated with new tatami and Japanese ‘Vashi’ paper. This room leads to its center, ‘Ro’, where a special fire for making tea awaits. ‘It never goes out. Above the ro, you see a hanging teapot, and the owner is skillfully handling it. The tea performance does not tolerate idle chatter. Therefore, in order to tune the spirit and soul, the host invites you to immerse yourself in meditation, contemplating the tokonoma,‘ continues MAKHNO Studio.

preserving the century-old atmosphere

Another worthy feature of a Japanese home is the ‘Tokonoma’, a niche in the wall of a ‘Chashitsu’ where objects are placed to guide one on their tea journey. Considered the most honorable place, a sign of aristocracy, the ‘Tokonoma’ is enriched here with ‘Ikebana’ — the ancient Japanese art of arranging flowers in the shape of a minimalist bouquet of seasonal plants. This flower arrangement sits right below scrolls engraved with poetic words by calligraphy artist Shuho Kondo.

While the host prepares tea, guests plunge into the depths of paradoxical Eastern wisdom. Every movement of the tea master is precise and defined, alluding to a spiritual experience. This practice is an active meditation, a sensual experience, and the highest form of communication. Originating in the 16th century, the Japanese tea ceremony is known as ‘sado’, literally translating to ‘the way of tea’. As the owner puts it: ‘The art of tea is the art of life.‘

MAKHNO Studio pays homage to the house’s authentic elements

The tea is then served in a ‘Chawan’, a traditional ceremony cup, which perfectly embodies the principles and aesthetics of wabi-sabi. This handleless ceramic vessel is typically made by hand to emphasize simplicity and perfection in its imperfection. At the end of the tea ceremony, the owner presents his collection of Japanese artistic ceramics from different schools and periods: products by Bidzen, Shigaraki, and others. ‘The owner tells us that the amazing Bidzen ware comes from the region of the same name in Okayama Prefecture, and it has a special native charm due to its reddish hues and slightly glossy surface texture. Bijen products have been created using authentic firing techniques without the use of glaze for more than five centuries, and it is one of the six oldest ceramic schools in Japan,’ explains the architect.

introducing ukrainian ceramics by makhno studio & others

Complementing the traditional Japanese artworks are Ukrainian ceramics. An entire collection of DIDOs created by hand by hereditary potters in MAKHNO workshops punctuate Kyoto House. Intricate in every detail, these sculptures continue the traditions of Ukrainian zoomorphic ceramics, a 3,000-year-old practice now resurfacing with significant impact. The Kyoto House includes a ceramic lion by famous Ukrainian potter Serhii Radko, plates and earthenware by MAKNO studio master Slavko Odarchenko, paintings by artist Oleksandr Babak, and traditional and modern Japanese graphics.

using ‘Ro’, a special fire for making tea