Close to the Kamo River that flows down the centre of town, Kyoto Wand has an indoor-outdoor design that features local scrap wood in all shapes and forms.

Coil Kazuteru Matsumura Architects recycled the interior of the two-storey townhouse, adding earthen walls, pillars and all those wood beams. They used timber for most of the fixtures and joinery, including the deep kitchen counter.

The distinguishing feature pops out of the north-facing window in the form of a bespoke half-swan chestnut tree log bench – handy for takeaway customers. Glazing wraps around two sides of the café, including two pairs of sliding doors following the local vernacular.

A steel staircase leads to an upper floor equipped with more seating. Guests are also invited to use the shower facilities, with their own lockers and changing rooms.

311-1 Kitatoryo-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, 605-0918.

[Via Yellowtrace]

Read next: Kengo Kuma’s Tottori cafe is a ‘staircase to the sky’

Scenery is the star at monochrome Busan cafe Off.O