Doma of Tokoname by Tezuka Architects – A Contemporary Tribute to Japan’s Earthenware Heritage

The Doma of Tokoname, designed by Tezuka Architects, stands as a contemporary architectural tribute to one of Japan’s oldest pottery-producing regions. Located in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, a city renowned for more than five centuries of tsuchimono (earthenware) production, the project blends traditional craftsmanship, vernacular spatial customs, and modern timber detailing into a multifunctional shop–residence. Completed in 2024 and spanning 176 m², the building serves both as a commercial pottery space and a warm, intimate home overlooking Ise Bay.

A Site Rooted in Centuries of Craftsmanship

Tokoname’s identity is inseparable from its clay-rich terrain. For hundreds of years, the city supplied not only everyday ceramics but also clay pipes, tiles, and civil engineering materials across Japan. The term tsuchimono—intentionally chosen over “ceramics”—reflects Tokoname’s deeper role in shaping daily life through practical, utilitarian clay works.

The project site sits along the historic approach to Dokanzaka, considered Tokoname’s version of Ginza. Here, the ground is layered with fragments of kiln-fired pipes and pottery, remnants of the region’s industrial past. Buildings in this district seem to rise through beds of broken ceramics, creating a distinctive urban texture. Instead of elegant machiya-style townhouses, this area is defined by simple, work-worn blackened structures that have long supported local livelihoods.

Reinterpreting the Doma as a Living and Working Threshold

Central to the design is the doma, a traditional Japanese earthen-floored threshold space that blurs the boundary between interior and exterior. Historically, pottery shops in Tokoname operated directly from the doma, as kiln-fired products were resilient to dust and dirt. Tezuka Architects reimagines this custom by wrapping the doma around the building, opening it on three sides to capture expansive views of Ise Bay.

The doma serves as the commercial zone where pottery is displayed and sold. This spatial ring creates a natural buffer between the busy street and the more private inner home, allowing commercial activity to blend seamlessly with domestic life.

A House Within a House – Layered Living Spaces

At the heart of the building is a compact, raised residence—a house nestled inside a larger protective shell, reminiscent of a yolk inside an egg white. Accessed via a shikidai, the raised living area maintains privacy while remaining visually connected to the shop.

A key detail is the use of reversed yukimi-shōji, sliding screens with glass at the top rather than the traditional bottom. This typological inversion allows residents to assist customers from the living space while ensuring privacy. With the residence elevated approximately 350 mm, the lower mago-shōji can be lifted to shield interior views up to 1000 mm, creating a refined balance of openness and seclusion.

A Flexible Semi-Outdoor Shop Under Deep Eaves

When the sliding partitions are opened, the entire pottery shop transforms into an expansive semi-outdoor gallery space, unified beneath the sweeping roof. One of the project’s defining features is the dramatic 4.7-meter cantilevered eave, a gesture rooted in traditional Japanese wooden architecture.

Rather than relying on ornamental hijiki brackets, the structure uses tail rafters to support the extended eave purlins. This method aligns closely with historical timber construction principles typically found in temples rather than private homes, giving the building an unexpected but timeless presence.

The generous eaves provide shade, soften the boundary between street and shop, and create a welcoming environment for visitors—many of whom may initially mistake the building for a historic landmark.

A Contemporary Interpretation of Everyday Architecture

Despite its refined detailing and architectural sensitivity, the Doma of Tokoname deliberately maintains the humility characteristic of the region’s traditional buildings. It integrates seamlessly into the streetscape while quietly elevating vernacular craftsmanship, material heritage, and the culture of pottery.