Town house in Sawaragicho

Kyoto, Japan
Photo © Yutaka Kinumaki

A remodel of an 80-year-old Kyoto “machiya,” or town house. By fitting a box made from 28mm plywood inside the existing frame, the architects achieved structural reinforcement and at the same time created a new room. Their aim was to use the contrast between the newly-added box and the existing structure to resuscitate the machiya’s essential appeal: a traditional house becomes modern through the use of new architectural technology.

Photo © Yutaka Kinumaki
Photo © Yutaka Kinumaki
Photo © Yutaka Kinumaki
Photo © Yutaka Kinumaki
Photo © Yutaka Kinumaki
Photo © Yutaka Kinumaki
Photo © Yutaka Kinumaki
Photo © Yutaka Kinumaki
Photo © Yutaka Kinumaki
Architects
Shogo Aratani Architect & Associates
Year
2011
Project Status
Built

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