Machiya House East of Kinkakuji Temple | design it

This residence is a renovated Kyo-machiya built 95 years ago, near Kinkakuji Temple. Nishijin was once lined with workshops and residences for textile craftsmen, and this Machiya was one of them. In addition, the client works remotely from his home. In a sense, this combination of work and home, which has been increasing in recent years, represents an everyday culture that is deeply rooted in the history of Nishijin and Machiya. If so, we would like to inherit not only the appearance of Machiya but also the prosperity and richness of a lifestyle that combines life and work.

When we first saw the building, we were struck by its unique "smallness.” For example, it is customary for Kyo-machiya to set the height of the doors to 1,730 mm, which is 20% smaller than what we normally design. Similarly, the rooms are only three tatami mats in size, crammed into a narrow space. It's so small that you can rub your head against the lintel and reach the wall easily. Its small size brings the architecture closer to the body, creating a gentleness and warmth that feels like it's touching your skin. Rather than overwriting a modern floor plan on top of that, we wanted to create a home that was close to the scale and lifestyle typical of Machiya, where he could live comfortably and fully enjoy his life.

Therefore, our basic policy is to "preserve as much as possible." This not only preserves the appearance of the old building, but it also preserves the roles of the rooms and the lifestyle suitable for Machiya, such as the former Misenoma (commercial space) being used as a workplace and the Daidoko (kitchen) being used as one. However, the dirt floor, which was once a textile workshop, is no longer in its original form due to repeated renovations and aging. Therefore, it was necessary to reconsider its status as a new space. The dirt floor dug out to house the tall loom is a symbol of Nishijin Machiya. We decided to wrap this semi-basement space in mortar and call it the living room.

As a result, the first floor had three floors of different heights. Changing the floor height can surprisingly change the comfort level. Sitting on the sofa, which is semi-basement, we feel an animal-like comfort, as if we had gotten into a den. A small place created in a connected space —a study with light shining through the Itoya latticework, a small dining room with a light on, and a living room that has been dug into the ground like a pit dwelling. It is a freewheeling and nostalgic home where he can move between them depending on the season and mood.

[JP]

金閣寺のほど近く、築95年の京町家を改修した住宅である。かつて西陣には織物職人の工房兼住居が建ち並び、この町家もその一つであった。新しい家主もリモートワークにより自宅を仕事場とするが、近年増えつつあるそんな職住一体は、ある意味で西陣と町家の歴史に深く根付く生活文化である。ならば町家の姿形だけでなく、生活と商いが混じり合う暮らしの賑やかさと豊かさも引き継ぎたい。

いざ実物の町家を目の当たりにして感じたのは、独特の「小ささ」だった。例えば建具高さは1,730mmとするのが京町家の習いだが、我々がふだん設計するものより二割も小さい。平面も同様にわずか3畳の部屋が細い敷地にすし詰めになっている。鴨居に頭が擦れ、壁にすぐ手が届くほどの小ささ。その小ささが、建築と身体を近づけ、肌に触れるような空間のやさしさやあたたかみを生んでいる。そこに現代の間取りを上書きするよりも、むしろ町家らしいスケールや生活文化に寄り添い、住みこなし、その楽しさを満喫できる住まいにしたいと思った。

したがって基本方針は「できるだけ残す」。それも古い建物の外見を残すだけでなく、かつてのミセノマ（商空間）は仕事場に、ダイドコ（台所）はキッチンに、といったように部屋の役割や町家らしい暮らしぶりも残す。ただし織物工房だった土間だけは度重なる改築や老朽化で原型を留めず、新たな場として捉え直す必要があった。西陣町家の象徴である、背の高い織機を置くために掘り下げられた土間。この半地下空間をそのままモルタルで包み、リビングと呼ぶことにした。

結果、一階には高さの違う三つの床ができた。床の高さが変われば意外なほど居心地も変わる。半地下に沈むソファに腰掛けると、まるで巣穴に潜り込んだような動物的安心感があった。ひとつながりの空間の中に生まれた小さな居場所―糸屋格子から光がにじむ書斎、灯りのともる小さな食卓、そして竪穴住居のように掘り込まれたリビング。それらを季節や気分にあわせて渡り歩くような、気ままで懐かしい住まいである。

Contractor: Archistyle

Photography: design it