ROYAL COURT SAGA

This is a revitalization project for a reinforced concrete (RC) multi-unit residence over 50 years old. At the time of acquisition, the building faced significant legal hurdles due to aging and repeated past renovations. Joining the team from the early stages, I organized the steps for legal compliance, analyzed business feasibility, and assessed resident conditions to develop a long-term revitalization plan. By untangling these complex requirements, I established a foundation for the building’s new chapter. For the renovation of all 13 units, I served as the creative director while personally designing two of the rooms. By welcoming a diverse group of creators—including chefs, artisans, and writers—as designers, we moved beyond the traditional framework of architecture to create free, multi-layered spaces.

Units 402 and 403 are SOHO-style spaces for offices or studios. Drawing from my own experience of living and working in an apartment, I aimed to challenge the blurred boundaries between work and daily life. While I carefully designed every detail—from lighting to greenery—with long hours of stay in mind, my greatest hope is for the residents to pleasantly exceed my imagination and make the space truly their own.

The sliding Shoji screens, spanning across rooms, feature a mix of high-translucency paper and low-translucency "Kurotani Washi." By reversing the patterns on the two screens, they are designed to increase opacity when overlapped on one side. This experimental approach is intended for moments when darkness is needed, such as sleeping or watching a movie. By layering transparent and opaque surfaces within a single fixture, the screens allow the user to playfully control light and shadow according to the scene.

In this renovation, the positions of the original entrance and balcony openings were fixed. To ensure smooth access and natural light for both sides, I established a design axis by connecting the center of the sliding doors. This auxiliary line sits at an angle of 10°. Using this 10° shift as a guide, I minimized the utility and bedroom areas to maximize the office and living spaces, creating four distinct zones. Introducing this slight deviation into a cramped, rectangular room breaks the rigid frontality and adds a dynamic rhythm to the simple layout. Even the wooden frames of the Shoji screens are tilted at the same 10° angle.

Due to budget constraints, I minimized the areas requiring new flooring and ceilings. The office space is designed for shoes-on use, leaving the existing RC structure exposed on the floor, walls, and ceiling. The two newly inserted walls feature silver and green sheet metal, each with a different color and pitch. Behind the silver wall lie private rooms and functions behind doors of pale green "Kurotani Washi." The green wall serves as a kitchen backsplash, cleverly concealing mechanical routes. By contrasting the raw concrete with refined metalwork, I aimed to create a dynamic shift in the space through minimal intervention.

Inside the rectangular RC structure, volumes of Washi are placed diagonally to divide the space into a cross. At the intersection, a curved wall softly connects the entrance and the atelier. A single step creates a subtle spatial boundary, while the base of this curve conceals mechanical piping and serves as a bench for putting on shoes. These areas form a visual "depth," intentionally crafting a play of light and shadow. In contrast to the rigid RC shell, the curved wall is finished with "Kurotani Washi," hand-crafted by Kihata-no. Despite its striking blue pigment, the unique texture of the hand-pressed paper lends a soft, nuanced expression to the interior.

At first glance, this layout may seem unconventional for daily life. However, the zoning is meticulously planned—not just for natural light, but to ensure smooth circulation and functional relationships between rooms. The kitchen, vanity, and bedroom are tucked inside the curved wall, a design that ensures privacy even when guests are present. The spacious entrance doubles as a versatile utility area, housing the laundry facilities. A ceiling-mounted pipe serves as both a coat rack and a space for indoor drying. Beneath the bold architectural strokes lies a highly practical environment, carefully tailored to support the rhythms of everyday living.