moss-covered earthen roof shields teahouse's waiting area in japan

"The Sekiyuan Waiting Area, located in Ichihara City, Chiba, , functions as a small structure where guests briefly wait before entering the adjacent . Designed and built by Kurosawa Kawara-ten in collaboration with an architect and an artist, not professional builders, through the DIT (Do It Together) approach, the project explores how informal building practices can contribute to contemporary architectural culture."

"Its surface is finished with mortar mixed with soil excavated from the foundation, extending across the gables and eaves for a unified appearance. No waterproofing was applied, allowing the surface to retain moisture and eventually support moss growth. The roof's intentionally low point at the rear subtly encourages visitors to bow as they enter, contributing to the tea ceremony's spatial etiquette while reducing hierarchical distinctions among guests. The diagonal opening of the roof establishes a clear directional gesture, guiding movement through the alleyway."

"The project responds to the site's existing garden layout. The landscape plan, developed by Takeda-ya Sakuteiten, introduced new paths and a bench-like waiting area using irregularly placed bricks and tiles. These elements informed the building's informal composition and its focus on reinterpreting conventional forms. Constructed without professional builders, the project uses its small scale and non-essential program to foreground the act of making."

The Sekiyuan Waiting Area in Ichihara City, Chiba, functions as a compact waiting space adjacent to the teahouse. Kurosawa Kawara-ten collaborated with an architect and an artist using a DIT (Do It Together) approach to construct an informal, small-scale structure without professional builders. The deformed single-slope roof is supported at three points and finished with mortar mixed with soil excavated from the foundation, left unwaterproofed so it retains moisture and fosters moss. The roof's low rear encourages visitors to bow and reduces hierarchical distinctions. A diagonal opening guides movement. The landscape plan added irregular paths and bench-like elements, and hands-on tasks foreground building as a responsive craft.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine