If Tokyo is speed and neon, Kyoto is a pause. In 2026, global corporations open offices in Kyoto to restore employees' mental health. We explore the 'Karesansui' (dry garden) philosophy in interiors. The lobby turns into a meditation spot: instead of carpets, gravel with perfectly raked furrows; instead of plastic, old moss-covered stone. Learn how ancient techniques help modern business find focus.
Stone and Gravel: Metaphor of Water
The center of a Kyoto lobby isn't the admin desk, but a rock garden. The reception is shifted to the side, maximally unobtrusive (shakkei - borrowed scenery). We use white gravel, raked into new patterns every morning symbolizing waves. This ritual tunes the office to a work rhythm. Interior stones are selected by masters (niwashi) for shape and 'character.' It's not decor; it's nature's sculpture.
Shoji and Tatami: Flexible Space
Diffuse Light
Instead of glass partitions, we use sliding shoji panels made of rice paper. They let in soft, matte light that casts no shadows. The waiting area is often a tatami podium where guests remove shoes (genkan). This is a radical solution for Western business, but it instantly changes behavior codes: people speak more quietly, politely, and sincerely.
