This 88-year-old traditional Japanese house is located in a quiet residential area in the city of Kamakura. We were commissioned to renovate it into a residence and collective office.

The house was originally built by a naval officer and owned by the Hojo family. HOJO SANCI literally translates to "Hojo's Home" --- embodying our concept that people in this space can feel like they are not at an office, but at someone's home. There is a Japanese garden at the site, rich with lush greenery extending from surrounding nature. A meditation room and a shower room also support users' productivity and lifestyles.

All rooms face outside, and the interior has been turned into a single open space by removing all fusuma (sliding partitions of thick paper framed in wood) that were dividing the rooms. The floor is raised above the ground by 60 cm, and mostly finished with tatami (straw mats). The existing wall and ceiling finishes of the house exude distinct beauty that has evolved over a long period of time. We intended to enhance such aesthetics by keeping the original finishes as they are, while partially exposing the substructure.

When we observed the features of the house, we decided to focus on floor heights and finishes, treating them as means to express different spatial characters, and defining spatial and functional zones. Repetitious contrasts between organic and inorganic elements create an integrated and harmonious atmosphere in the house.