Maana Homes Architecture Retreat, Kyoto, Japan

whilst capturing maana homes’ architecture retreat, i found myself immersed in a world where tradition and innovation quietly converse. each moment unfolded like a reflection on space, light, and the deep reverence for materials that shape japanese design.

we traced the quiet beauty of earthen walls, our hands pressing into the raw textures of clay and straw, understanding the patience required to build something that breathes with time. in the soft light of the maana atelier, delicate sudare screens were woven—light filtering through their strands, casting shifting patterns that felt like poetry in motion.

a day spent with architect shigenori uoya was an invitation to see kyoto through his eyes—to understand the subtleties of machiya design, where shadows and negative space hold as much meaning as structure itself. over tea, he spoke of restraint, of harmony with nature, of the stories embedded in old wooden beams.

we wandered through a town untouched by time, its edo-period facades whispering of centuries past. narrow streets, tiled roofs, the elegant curve of a noren swaying in the breeze—each detail a reminder that architecture is not only about form, but about the lives it shelters.

through my lens, i sought to capture the essence of this retreat—a quiet, thoughtful immersion into the soul of japanese design, where every material, every line, every shadow carries the weight of intention.