Suspended ceilings and pointless partition partitions had been eliminated on this minimalist revamp of a home in Japan’s Saitama Prefecture, designed by Jorge Almazán Architects.
Home in Honjo was beforehand divided into rooms and corridors, which made it really feel small and cramped.
Architect Jorge Almazán and his workforce designed a brand new ground-floor structure that eliminated as many partition partitions as potential, making a steady dwelling area that gives a larger feeling of spaciousness.
The brand new structure is broken-plan reasonably than open-plan; the area is loosely divided up into totally different zones by the few remaining partition partitions, and some customized furnishings items.
In addition to creating additional head peak, the elimination of the suspended ceiling boards reveals the metal structural beams and picket joists, giving the house a extra utilitarian really feel.
Home in Honjo is house to a style critic who just lately relocated from Tokyo for work.
Though the 163-square-metre property didn’t meet her necessities, the situation was handy for her job. She requested Almazán to revamp the 97-square-metre floor flooring, leaving the remainder of the constructing intact.
“Her house needed to be spacious and full of pure mild, in addition to a spot the place she may maintain household and pal gatherings,” defined Jorge Almazán Architects.
The brand new broken-plan dwelling area incorporates an entrance corridor, a lounge, a eating area and a kitchen organised round an island.
Knowledgeable by the consumer’s curiosity in style, Almazán added totally different materials textures to every area. The kitchen options a stainless-steel worktop, the eating space centres round a marble desk, and the lounge options white leather-based upholstery.
“Every aspect is ‘dressed’ with a particular tactile and visible expertise,” mentioned the studio.
Wooden options closely all through. The flooring is birch wooden, whereas plywood strains the partitions and gives furnishings, together with cabinets and sideboards that act as area dividers.
Roughly privateness might be created by including or eradicating parts from the shelving that separates the lounge and the eating space from the doorway corridor.
Flexibility was thought-about all through. The lounge furnishings might be simply moved to create room for train or, sooner or later, youngsters’s play area, whereas the eating desk is designed to additionally operate as a workspace.
Underfloor heating ensures that the area will keep comfy throughout Saitama’s notoriously chilly winters, whereas the extra open structure creates extra alternatives for cross air flow within the hotter summer time months.
A brand new window was put in to extend the amount of pure mild within the lounge area, with a window sill that’s deep sufficient to permit area for pot vegetation, whereas a skylight was added within the hallway.
A brand new bathroom and utility room was additionally created as a part of the renovation, which helps to rationalise the structure on the rear of the bottom flooring.
Home in Honjo “has proved to be particularly fitted to the brand new home circumstances imposed by the pandemic,” famous Jorge Almazán Architects.
“The consolation of pure mild and air flow, the wealthy tactility of its surfaces, and the spatial openness and flexibility have allowed this renovated home to change into an pleasing inside oasis.”
Dwelling renovations are much less frequent in Japan than different nations, as rebuilding is normally the popular choice.
Japanese actual property agency Goodlife just lately got down to change this, with the renovation of a compact house in Tokyo. Different latest examples embody a minimally furnished flat in Nagoya.
Pictures is by Montse Zamorano.
Undertaking credit
Architect: Jorge Almazán Architects
Design workforce: Jorge Almazán, Javier Celaya, Gaku Inoue, Rumi Okazaki.
Contractor (inside and furnishings): Shibata Kenchiku Design Room
Electrical energy: Uchimura Denki
Kitchen producer: Kitazawa Kitchen
