Machiya in Sumiyoshi, Osaka|Tetsuya Kimura Architects
《Machiya in Sumiyoshi, Osaka》
This project involved the renovation of a machiya townhouse in Osaka City that was more than 100 years old. Facing the street, the south elevation of the tsushi-nikai—an Osaka townhouse’s low second floor—features black plaster walls with mushiko-mado windows. The projecting lattice windows retain their wooden sashes and are enclosed on the outside by a naguri-finished komayose fence, while the entrance still preserves the characteristic wooden ōdo gate of an Osaka machiya. Inside, tatami rooms are arranged along the north–south axis, facing the front garden to the north, and the carved ranma transoms between them are based on the motif of Sumiyoshi Taisha. Traditional glass with its characteristic waviness also remains in the fittings, reflecting a home that has been carefully lived in and passed down through many years.
Over time, however, the columns and walls had become considerably out of plumb, and unevenness in the floors had become increasingly noticeable. Drafts, as well as the heat and cold, had also made contemporary urban living a matter of endurance. In undertaking the renovation, the primary aim was to preserve and carry forward as fully as possible the charm of the machiya that the house had retained over the years, while achieving comfortable modern life in the city.
The main living areas were deliberately not placed on the south side facing the street; instead, they were consolidated on the north side, where the garden is located. The little-used tatami rooms were converted into everyday living spaces, and part of the second-floor structure was removed to create a high ceiling and supplement the natural light. The small room facing the street was made into a Buddhist altar room, serving as a buffer zone between the street and the living areas. The entire house was enveloped in cellulose-fiber insulation, and a radiant heating and cooling system that does not create uncomfortable air currents was adopted. Its panels were carefully integrated so as not to detract from the character of the machiya. Existing built-in elements and fittings were reused wherever possible, either by adapting them or relocating them. They now proudly tell the history of the home, revived with a new radiance.
Building Overview
Building area: 156.78 m²
Total floor area: 188.88 m²
Scale/structure: Two-story wooden tsushi-nikai construction
Design and supervision: Tetsuya Kimura Architects
Construction: Ishizu Construction Co., Ltd.
Overall coordination: Architects Studio Japan
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