Kyoto Machiya

Publication Design

Research, design, & production

Machiya, a traditional wooden Japanese townhome that has shaped the country for over 1300 years, are a beautifully functional design that have embodied the culture of the merchant class for over a millennia. Because of historical events involving arson and the Great Kyoto Fire of 1788, new safety codes that were place have prevented the building of any new Machiya structures leaving restoration as the only option for maintaining the spirit these homes bring to the Japanese culture.

I created this 50 page publication to help educate and spread awareness to Americans who love things authentically Japanese. I hope that they will learn to love these slowly disappearing masterpieces of Japanese culture and invest in establishments that look to restore these properties rather than renovate.

Telling the story

After spending some time in Japan, learning from historians, architects, and passionate merchants I understood that the spirit of the Machiya has so much to do with the design, that I built my publication concept to emulate walking through each room of a Machiya.

Research: To understand the spirit of the Machiya I spent time in Kyoto visiting merchants in the Zakas, strolling through neighborhoods, participating in workshops such as making wagashi and tea drinking, interviewing Mr. Yamamoto, a Machiya Master Carpenter to better understand the amazing architecture techniques employed to create the structures

Design: I wanted to build my publication to conceptually walk the reader through the Machiya and incorporate as many rituals and elements of the lifestyle as possible. I focused on key concepts of Japanese design philosophy (wabi-sabi, shizen, ma, kanso, and seijaku) and mixed media (photography, paper craft, ink drawings) to authenticate the message.
Production: After I completed the visuals and content of the design, I selected my paper and binding style then set the book for print. The book is hand bound with a perfect bind.

[AWARDS]

2017 AAF Addy Awards - Fort Worth - Silver
2017 AAF Addy Awards - District - Bronze