This is a renovation of a wooden house in a district where old streets still remain. The surrounding area is a forest of high-rise buildings, but a narrow alley one step further in develops a landscape of low-rise buildings crowded together. Considering the distance between the site and the city, we created a light well with a top light and a good sense of distance from the alley through the earthen floor and bay windows. The existing building had only a concrete block foundation and needed structural reinforcement, so the hugging pillars were tied to the existing pillars with coach bolts and the exterior walls were hung from the inside like a curtain wall.

Japan | Tokyo

Jutakutokushu June 2011 issue 30P