HAUS IN RISEICHO

Marred by successive, makeshift renovations and structural tilting, the original interior had lost much of its inherent charm. While an extensive overhaul was inevitable, the client introduced an unexpected brief: a "Morocco / Mint Green" theme. Working within a modest budget, the design responds not with costly materials, but with curated poetic details. Rather than relying on authentic Moroccan plaster, the exotic essence is fluidly scattered throughout the space—from the wallpaper and paint tones to the restroom tiles, bedroom lighting, and ceramics waiting in the garden.

The design of the first floor begins with the inherent constraints of the traditional townhouse—its existing floor levels and low overhead beams. Rather than seeing them as obstacles, these conditions were accumulated into a series of stepped levels that naturally afford new ways of sitting and lingering. The seamless, circular circulation flowing from the kitchen through the pantry, utility, laundry, veranda, and living-dining spaces transforms daily chores into a fluid architectural rhythm. At the heart of this home sits a single, custom-built feature crafted from greenish Towada-ishi stone, integrating the kitchen, dining table, and media console. Interacting with the brown of the timber, the white of the walls, and the vivid green of the garden, it creates a serene anchor for peaceful living.

The program for the second floor was simple: positioning two bedrooms and a restroom. However, the potential for a long, straight corridor lined with three doors posed a challenge of visual claustrophobia. The solution was found by angling the layout at 45 degrees to carve out a minimal hall. While this gesture slightly reduced the nominal bedroom area on paper, this single, simple operation introduced a surprising depth and richness to both the corridor and the rooms. To complement this flow, the three adjacent doors were designed with soft curves, introducing a gentle harmony into the linear space.

The two bedrooms are gently separated by sliding doors, offering the flexibility to be integrated into a single, expansive space where light and breeze flow seamlessly from north to south. With flush, inconspicuous handles, the doors ensure a comfortable sense of privacy when the rooms are used individually. The introduction of diagonal lines and curved fittings—unconventional for a traditional townhouse—subtly departs from orthodox rules while preserving livability, creating a uniquely calm sanctuary. At night, a Moroccan brass pendant lamp casts intricate patterns of light and shadow across the walls and ceiling, enveloping the space in an evocative, oriental atmosphere.

The approach to the exterior was rooted in preserving and celebrating the character of the original structure without major alterations. On the second floor, the metal sheeting was stripped away to restore the authentic plaster finish beneath. While the entrance doors are newly installed, they are seamlessly integrated by aligning their design with the existing transom grids and repurposing the original glass. Though the house to the west has been drastically altered, the neighborhood to the east still retains the traditional atmosphere of a machiya; it felt vital to pass this streetscape onto the next generation. By simply and carefully tidying the haphazardly placed utility meters and mailboxes, the facade vividly reclaims its inherent dignity.