Important Traditional Building Conservation Area

This project was the renovation of a traditional building in Imaicho, Kashihara city in Nara Prefecture.

Imaicho was an area which flourished in the Edo period and has been certified as one of Japan’s Important Traditional Building Conservation Areas, and in recent years the national and prefectural authorities have been working to preserve the townscape.

The design of the building frontage, which faces the roadway on the north side is strictly controlled by national regulations, and this creates a kind of formality as it harmonizes with the surrounding buildings. Beyond the façade, the tasteful design of this Edo period house is apparent in the warmth of the living and dining room area which has been renovated to suit the contemporary lifestyle of the owners.

Those areas face facing a courtyard with a sunroom and an old well. Deeper into the property is a detached building. The sunroom fills with bright light from above and is a comfortable space.

At the beginning of the project, I was anxious about the limitations placed on the plans, but we received enthusiastic cooperation from the people in charge of the ‘Imaicho Building Center’ , and thanks to their advice, this plan proceeded smoothly and we finished with excellent results.