In a historic neighborhood in Kyoto, structures elbow up against one another, including carpentry shops, centuries-old pickle stores, and traditional machiya townhouses. One such home stands out with an artwork at the entrance that hints at what’s now inside: a one-bed accommodation with a rotating photography library and gallery. The house was renovated by photographer dominicksheldon and set designer whitneyhellesen, who had become enamored with the city while honeymooning there in 2017. “We liked the idea of doing it in Japan because of the country’s dedication to photography and craft,” says Dominick of their search for a home for their artist residency. For the renovation, the couple consulted with Dominick’s uncle, a former architect, as they worked with Kyoto firm Imamura Architects to find the right mix of traditional and modern elements. Throughout, traditional features take on new use cases: Upstairs, the bedroom has a tokonoma, an alcove used to display seasonal art, while a...