A pre-1950 machiya in Kyoto's Nishikumacho district, fully restored and re-imagined for modern living without losing the soul of the original structure.
Project Type
Ground-up Restoration
Completion
June 2026
We preserved what could be saved, and reimagined the rest.
The Nishikumacho machiya stood quietly in one of Kyoto’s older residential streets for nearly a century before our team began its restoration. The original wooden frame, ceiling beams, and koshi-do façade were sound — testaments to the craftsmanship of pre-1950 Kyoto carpenters. Our priority was to preserve these defining elements, refinishing the timber by hand and reinforcing the structure without altering its essential character.
Where modern living demanded change, we approached each intervention with restraint. A new kitchen with integrated appliances sits behind the original lattice, hidden from the street. A hinoki cypress ofuro was built into the bathroom in the traditional manner. Insulation, plumbing, and climate control were introduced invisibly. The result is a home that feels every bit its age, while offering the warmth and ease a modern family expects.
⸺ Sourcing
We locate heritage properties across Kyoto and rural Japan — machiya, kominka, and former temples whose architectural integrity makes them worth preserving. Each candidate is evaluated for structural soundness, historical character, and restoration potential.
⸺ Design
Our in-house architects assess the structure and develop a sensitive restoration plan. We map what to preserve, what to repair, and where modern systems can be integrated without disturbing the home's character.
⸺ Structural Restoration
Original timber frames, beams, and lattice work are stabilized and refinished by hand. We reinforce where needed using traditional joinery and contemporary techniques — always invisible, always reversible where possible.
⸺ Modern Systems
Plumbing, electrical, insulation, and climate control are introduced behind the scenes. Kitchens, bathrooms, and storage are reimagined for contemporary life, specified in materials that match the home's vocabulary.
⸺ Interior Detailing
Hand-applied plaster, custom joinery, hinoki ofuro, integrated lighting — every visible surface is considered. We source from the same workshops that have supplied Kyoto's machiya for generations.
⸺ Handover
The completed home is documented, photographed, and prepared for its next chapter. We support new owners through purchase, registration, and the early months of living in their restored property.
