Lantern of Snow

A chapel renewal project located in a heavy snowfall region. We aimed for a design that inverts the "harshness" of snow into "clear silence and peace."

The spatial motif is the "Kamakura" (snow cave), a primal landscape of the snow country. Continuous wooden arches, reminiscent of hollowed-out snow, gently envelop the space with a womb-like security. For the walls, we upcycled scaffolding boards that long supported the feet of craftsmen. Through hand-cleaning and nail removal, we inherited the "narrative of time" continuously etched into the wood.

Against the monochromatic exterior, the interior's golden warmth and light particles representing falling snow create a sanctuary of prayer unique to this region.