maana homes architecture retreat — a day with japanese architect, uoya shigenori

it was an honour meeting japanese architect uoya shigenori, who welcomed us into his residences. grounded in research into kyoto’s urban dwellings and grid system, each focus on preserving machiya and nagaya. through a deep understanding of natural materials and composition, he adapts each space for modern use while preserving the essence of traditional japanese construction and aesthetics.

a beautiful example of how transforming traditional elements gives them new life while preserving their inherent beauty and connection to the past.

i love the idea of reimagining materials. roof tiles, pared back to their essence, became a stunning floor tile in his home.

homes that welcome sun inside so elegantly, revealing the beauty and art of how their special walls are crafted— the way natural sunbeams move through japanese machiya is so graceful, absorbing light in ways that soften, deepen, and transform each space.

nature is not kept outside but welcomed within, like the rhythm of changing seasons, endless and ever-changing.

in the tokonoma, the most honorable place in the home, seasonal objects are thoughtfully placed ——- a silent gesture of reverence, where nature, art, and intention meet in stillness. i love this special place where nature’s passing moments and fleeting seasonal gifts are brought indoors and contemplated in stillness. and the special space, the place where precious secret things are hidden.

there is a delicate balance that exists between privacy and appreciation of the surrounding landscape. a sense of retreat without disconnection. walls and screens offer shelter, framing glimpses of the world beyond, while light is welcomed gently inside, filtered through slatted wood.

maana homes and kyoto research institute retreats mirror a way of living i hold close. i believe how we build, shapes how we live. in the gentle exchange between shelter and soul, something deeper is formed. a way of being that honours beauty, intention, and a quiet poetry of place.

i am grateful to capture their beauty and share their essence.

love.
sarah jessica marie burns x

floors that breathe with the seasons, carrying the scent of rain. the softness of time.

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.

architecture musings that flow between japan, morocco, and beyond.
sarah jessica marie burns x