Midwood

Midwood is a photographic monograph by Won Kim, documenting the quiet, insular lives of residents living in the micro-apartments of a guesthouse in Tokyo. Born out of Kim’s curiosity about the concealed architectural density of the city, the project began when the photographer gained access to a building where the inhabitants lived in remarkably small, partitioned spaces. The work serves as a sociological study of privacy and personal territory within a high-density urban environment.

The book design prioritizes an immersive, empathetic approach to its subjects, favoring natural light and candid positioning over staged portraiture. Kim sought to capture the dignity and resourcefulness of the residents as they adapted their lives to these confined parameters. Upon its release, the collection was noted by critics for its sensitive handling of transient living, effectively contrasting the immense scale of Tokyo with the deeply personal, self-contained world each resident constructed within their individual rooms.