scaled back house by otsubo design + ROOVICE

scaled back house by otsubo design + ROOVICE
all images courtesy of otsubo design + ROOVICE

the front facade of this family house in kamakura city, japan, has been transformed by japanese firms otsubo design and ROOVICE. the original entrance was designed as a waiting space for the novelist-owner’s editors for when they came to visit. unused by the new occupants, the room was an unnecessary waste of space – they decided to create a place for parking at the front instead. the total floor area of the building was reduced by removing the unused lobby but the new design ‘scaled back house’, actually adds value to the site. the ‘reduction’ has a strong, contemporary presence. the architects preserved the existing structure behind, by linking the mortar facade and also by matching the new gable board color to the existing structure. the simple design creates a sense of warmth and connection to the old building, as well as dramatically redefining its relationship with the street.

‘reducing could mean more. scaling back does not mean just reducing floor space. it is a way to achieve a comfortable life for the family who live in this house today.’ says the architects, ‘achieving energy efficiency by having a compact house, reducing maintenance costs and designing a cozy environment for the family’.

the owners now have a place to park their car, the total footprint of the building was reduced

the original lobby was removed to create a new front entrance

the architects preserved the existing structure behind, by linking the mortar facade and gable roof

interior view

interior view

the original entrance design with the unused lobby

view from the street

project info:

location: kamakura city, kanagawa
type: renovated house
structure: wooden two-story house
total floor area (before renovation): 133.64 m2
total floor area (after renovation): 121.34 m2
planned area: reduced area 12.3 m2, interior 27.5 m2
project year: may 2013
design: masayoshi otsubo, fumie otsubo (otsubo design) nov fukui (roovice inc.)
construction: roovice inc.
construction in charge: nov fukui, motomizu kuroda, ryota arai (roovice inc.)

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