Ichijoji House

The studio architecture studio based in Osaka, Luke workshop, has collaborated closely with the craftsmen of Kyoto, Osaka and Nagano to achieve this warm and textured interior of a house located in the suburbs of Kyoto.

Perfect balance between modernity and tradition, traditional finishes and techniques have been applied to the design and renovation of this terraced house after the war. The client, a Danish and Australian furniture manufacturer, wanted to modernize the house without giving up the character that makes traditional Japanese homes unique. From this will, a design approach has been adopted in which modern attitudes to life are balanced and contrasted with tradition. Originally built in 1961, the house required a complete renovation and the creation of a small extension at the back.

Each carpentry element has been finished by hand using traditional techniques. The living areas are placed upstairs and private ones on the ground floor. The old kitchen has been converted into a traditional Japanese room. A new bathroom and a toilet on the ground floor replace the outbuildings that were demolished to allow the extension of the house. A series of custom-made furniture has also been created. Japanese oak kitchen cabinets are combined with a unique copper worktop. An oak dining table is supported by the structure of the building, which allows it to float in space. Finally, a wooden ladder provides access to a small loft.