Airhouse

This renovation project is located in Nekogahora Dori, Chikusa-ku in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. Two existing “machiya” (traditional Japanese wooden tradesmen’s houses) that were adjacently built 40 years ago are connected and converted into a single structure containing a residence and a shop. In response to the client’s request to design a large dining / kitchen space to host social gatherings, we have designed the entire entrance area as the dining / kitchen space. Space for living is located on the second floor to secure privacy while the lower and upper floors are not fully separated but connected by a void space to achieve a spacious loft-like open space. The existing floor-to-ceiling partition walls are basically removed to let in light from both the east and west sides to achieve a bright living space in a Japanese-style house which is supposed to have relatively dark rooms in typical configurations. By stripping the structure to reveal the skeleton, we intend to maximize the spatial efficiency and also added structural reinforcement based on the necessary calculations. Today the number of old buildings in need for renovation is rapidly increasing, and we intend to propose an effective solution to achieve rich space by utilizing, reducing and reinforcing existing structures. (for the shop design, please see description of “machimachi”.)

This building, clad in white galvanized metal, used to be a dry cleaner’s shop. “machimachi”, which constitutes a part of the renovated structure, is a select shop dealing with ladies’ fashion, located in 5-minute walking distance from Motoyama Station on the Nagoya Municipal Subway Higashiyama Line. The existing structure, which had been supported by small structural members, was structurally deflected and deformed over a long period of time. We stripped down the structure to expose the skeleton and added beams and metal parts for reinforcement. The customized metal parts are made of special steel and the new structural wood members are color-coordinated while maintaining the original atmosphere and texture and incorporating bold elements. We intend to achieve materiality that expresses the warm human touch and the extensive history of the house. Such materiality generates a sense of security and belongingness to the community, and we hope that the shop will activate and renew the townscape while maintaining consideration for the community. (for the residence, please see description of “Renovation in Nekogahora”.)

A piece of land in a Japanese persimmon (kaki) orchard was offered as the project area for a residential house. As the client wanted wide open spaces with high ceilings, a structure composed of a large roof set on top of seven thick columns was used. To secure copious glass windows, private areas are located inside the columns while intervals between columns are designated as living, dining and kitchen spaces. With this composition, only the sky and the kaki orchard are visible from the inside, giving the area an open feeling while the kaki trees provide a sense of privacy from the outside world, all of which makes for a relaxed atmosphere in the interior areas. As the landscape transforms with the changing of the kaki seasons, a generous living space is produced in the house nestled among the kaki trees.

This project was a renovation of a 40-year-old reinforced concrete apartment. The spaces of the house were designed from a viewpoint of “storing clothes”. It was said that the client had a passion for fashion and loved trying on clothes or displaying newly bought clothes. The client requested a large-sized closet space. However, we thought it was a shame to completely hide away the precious clothes. Therefore, a large closet space, called a dress room, was made in the center of the plan. The room functions as a passage as well as a display storage and a hide-away storage, and the space continuously changes depending on the situation or season. By doing so, fashion blends into life, and I believe that the space became a place to change the client’s mood whenever it was passed by. This renovation project was done by constructing spaces through re-examination of the conventional ideas of clothing storage.

The kitchen and selling space are considered to have equal weight, and a large table-like platform is created between them. This table can be used for a variety of purposes such as a display space, a checkout counter, or a working space to cut bread and knead dough. Structural plywood was used for the top of the table, and translucent polycarbonate corrugated sheets are placed on the sides of the platform. By designing the sides as translucent, it is intended to emphasize the presence of the table while blurring boundaries. For this shop with a small-sized staff, this design enables the owner to always have knowledge of the shop situation and allows different actions depending on the amount of bread produced. As a result, this table creates an open atmosphere, fosters communication between the customers and bakers, dynamically displays the process from the time the bread is baked to the moment it is sold, and creates a rich retail space that is fun for working as well as shopping.

One of our client’s major requirements was for a living space where the presence of the family would always be felt. In response, we devised a single-roomed layout without columns that took advantage of the distinctive features of the existing warehouse. A large kitchen was installed to cater to the needs of the food-loving husband-and-wife couple. We then conceived the entire living space by taking the kitchen as a focal point, with a mix of various other activities and functions unfolding around it. Within this single-roomed space, we also created a box-like structure with a loft bedroom for the children on top of it, and private quarters including a bedroom and bathroom inside it. In order to minimize heat loss within this massive space, a 100mm layer of urethane foam was added to the walls, floors and ceiling, while a combined heat and power device was installed in the living room to heat water and provide floor heating. All openings were designed by making use of existing sash windows and doors, while glass panes were all given a double-glazing treatment to improve insulation. The façade of the building was left intact in an effort to blend in with the surrounding neighborhood, as well as due to cost considerations. The result was a comfortable, luxurious home that made effective use of existing features while also avoiding excessive expense.

The modification plan of the interior design of a children's-clothes store. Stark interior design which conflicts simultaneously with "kids-likeness" was requested from the client. Even if space was starks, as an element made into the cause that innocence can be recognized, shape proposed the display by star type fixtures. Usually, if dotty fixtures gather, it will become a star type, and it makes it possible to make various scenes according to a season or an event. It is similar about the appearance. It gives a simple impression. And I express childishness by using the surface feel of a material such as a white plastic toy. By considering how to connect display fixtures and how to divide, it became the plan it became possible to produce rich shopping space.