Dr. Komai's Residence, Historic residence in Kitashirakawa, Kyoto, Japan
Dr. Komai's Residence is a two-story wooden house with Spanish design elements, featuring a gabled roof with reddish tiles and traditional Japanese interior spaces. The building demonstrates how Western and traditional Japanese design principles were combined in a single structure.
William Merrell Vories designed this house in 1927 for Dr. Taku Komai, a genetics professor at Kyoto Imperial University. The project emerged during a period when Japanese intellectuals were exploring Western architecture and modern ways of living.
The layout inside shows how Western living spaces sit alongside traditional tatami rooms and wooden sliding doors, creating an interesting mix for daily life.
The residence is open to visitors on specific weekdays and advance notice is recommended before coming. Access usually happens in small groups to help protect the historic spaces inside.
A greenhouse on the grounds now serves as an exhibition space showing information about Dr. Komai's scientific work and research interests. This connection between home and work reveals how the owner lived and thought about his career.
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