The French School of Asian Studies – École Française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO) – holds an extensive library housed in a new building in Kyoto. The narrow site is surrounded by neighboring buildings on three sides. Equipped with the most advanced technological features (electrochromic glass, ecological glasswool insulation, geothermal heat storage, solar panels, etc.), the structure offers a prime example of sustainable development in modern construction. At the same time, time-honored Japanese woodworking methods were deployed, allowing the building to be erected rapidly.