A Kyoto machiya that dates back to the 1920s has been transformed into the Gucci Bamboo House – in honour of the fashion house’s iconic bamboo-handled bag.
Once home to the Kawasaki family, the property has historic architecture and interiors – which includes a well-preserved tatami mat tearoom, and a library decked out in flower-patterned paper.
The brand has added its own spin to the house, installing Gucci chairs and monogrammed shoji panels. Bags appear next to artworks created by Chikuunsai Tanabe, and made from bamboo, as well as the machiya’s own bamboo grove – set in the private courtyard garden the house is wrapped around.
Gucci, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, also launched its new collection, Aria, at the nearby Kiyomizu-dera temple. Visitors to the Bamboo House, which remains open to the public until 15 August, can catch a glimpse of the collection in a short film currently being shown in the home’s cinema room.
