We renovated a wooden two-story residence, 15 min away from Kunitachi station. Located in the western portion of Tokyo, Kunitachi is popular among young people as three big universities reside there.
Project Name- Kunitachi House
Studio Name- Roovice
The house was built in the late 70s and had some plumbing issues that had to be solved before anyone could live there and therefore it sat vacant for several years before the owners got introduced to our Kariage project.
At zero cost for the owner we renovate and then sublease old vacant houses. The project started as a reaction to Japan’s continuing akiya (空き家) problem, as there is more than 10 million abandoned properties in Japan.
Judging from the outer facade, the interior of Kunitachi house surprised us with its distinct character. We aimed to carry out the renovation in the most respectful way to honor its past and bring back its shiny soul.
As the structural issues that had to be taken care of had a significant impact on our budget, we decided to work with the existing elements of the house and focus the renovation on the areas that needed to be modernized, such as the kitchen and the facilities.
The existing floor plan was not modified and original floorings were kept in the whole house. The entrance presents a glass mosaic ornamental window and a wall decorated with tiles from Denmark.
One of the walls of the living room features rare Bizen ware tiles which we refurbished and preserved. The lighting installed in the ceiling boards was reorganized and the layout simplified.
To create a more smooth transition between the dining area and the kitchen, an arched entrance has been created. We installed a custom-made pink gray color kitchen instead of the former outdated module kitchen. White tiles were applied on the wall behind the counter and a custom-made wooden shelf was hung on the right side of the wall, on top of the kitchen window.
We replaced all the tatami in the Japanese-style rooms of the house and repainted the walls. We refurbished the shoji sliding doors and windows. The bathroom on the second floor has been fully renovated, a unit bathtub has been installed. The toilets on both floors have been replaced.
