Renovating an existing structure can be more challenging than building anew. The Green Sandwich House in Hayama, south of Tokyo, showcases how Studio HYAN embraced this challenge and transformed a 1970s home for its founders, architect Anna Naganuma and designer Shohei Hasegawa. Their team revitalizes this space through innovative design techniques and thoughtful planning.
The studio tackled the renovation with the principle of inheritance over demolition. As Hasegawa explains, the focus was not merely to preserve a 1970s aesthetic but to adapt the home’s potential to suit modern living. This approach prevented the design from getting lost in nostalgia and instead created a clear vision of renewal.
Structural Adaptations and How They Revitalize Space
To meet contemporary seismic standards, major structural reinforcements were necessary. The team skillfully integrated these elements into the design. Timber columns and roof beams remain exposed, marking where walls once stood, thus transforming the architecture itself. The interior space was reimagined by removing most internal partitions to create a seamless living, dining, and kitchen area. The designers refreshed the overall layout by implementing changes in floor levels and ceiling heights to subtly delineate different zones, creating natural overlaps between work and daily life activities.
Another fascinating example of innovative timber architecture is explored in the Negrilla House by Croxatto and Opazo Architects, which captures stunning Pacific vistas through its design.
Harmonious Material Choices and Natural Connections
The chosen materials provide warmth and character, enhancing the structure’s connection to its environment. With pale plastered walls, timber floors, and colored tiles, the design captures light from large windows and reflects the wooded surroundings of Hayama. Studio HYAN ensures this connection to the landscape, making the interior feel part of the natural environment without relying on statement furniture.
Upstairs, the design balances privacy with connection. Bedrooms and a study provide intimate retreats while offering views over the expansive living area below. Each area is revitalized with a vision of the house as a living entity, growing and changing with its occupants’ lives, perfectly attuned to the seasons.
This house stands as a testament to their ability to honor the past while crafting spaces that breathe with the present. The team reinvigorates traditional design approaches, bringing them into modern utility.
For further inspiration on creating engaging spaces, learn how accessories can transform a room into a stunning and personalized environment.
Source: yankodesign.com
Frequently asked questions
How did Studio HYAN approach the renovation of the house?
Studio HYAN approached the renovation with the principle of inheritance over demolition, focusing on adapting the home’s potential to suit modern living rather than preserving a 1970s aesthetic.
What structural changes were made to the house?
Major structural reinforcements were integrated to meet contemporary seismic standards, and the interior space was reimagined by removing most internal partitions to create a seamless living, dining, and kitchen area.
How does the design connect with the natural environment?
The chosen materials, such as timber floors and large windows, provide warmth and character, enhancing the structure’s connection to its wooded surroundings, making the interior feel part of the natural environment.