Squares of light shine via the perforated brick facade of this former storehouse, which architect Ryo Matsui has converted into an entertaining space after it was partially destroyed in Japan’s 2011 earthquake.
The 120-yr-old storehouse was badly damaged in the Excellent East Japan Earthquake – which killed almost sixteen,000 folks and damaged over a million buildings when it hit in 2011 – but the consumer was nonetheless keen to preserve the creating for potential generations.
Ryo Matsui and his Tokyo company rebuilt the structure and renamed it Rebirth Home. It now provides a generous residing and dining space beside the client’s home in Ibaraki prefecture.
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Whilst the original ornamental roof tiles have been preserved, the outer walls had to be replaced. A new perforated brick facade covered in a layer of white render was additional to the structure, which the architect describes as currently being like a lace veil.
“After investigating, we judged it was hard to reuse of principal structure. Even so, we determined to reconstruct as elements of the property retaining their ambiance,” explained Matsui, whose previous patterns include a hair salon with a transparent home-shaped facade.
The authentic windows have been produced somewhat larger to deliver more light within without having changing the overall appearance of the constructing. At evening these openings appear as a series of illuminated squares, developed by the artificial lighting within the constructing.
“We thought the existence of new windows could be concealed like sporting lace,” mentioned the architect. “And we devised a facade laid of perforated bricks and painted white plastery.”
“Even though it appears to retain the old storehouse appearance from the outside, when we enter the inside we are wrapped with gentle light and wind from numerous windows,” he extra. “The concealed windows of the facade are noticeable only at evening.”
A wooden mezzanine matching the pale timber rafters overlooks the main entertainment area, which is illuminated by pendant lights and lengthy white flexes and features a circular dining table.
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Projected across the inner daub walls is a gridded pattern of light and shadow developed by perforated screens across the windows.
In the basement, a brick-lined wine cellar offers a far more intimate dining space all around a chunky wooden tabletop. This is supported by a stack of perforated red bricks left in excess of from the construction of the outer walls.
“Inheriting from the outdated memory and the new behaviour, we hope it gets the property that be loved from generation to generation,” stated the architect.
The firm has also designed the interior of a comic guide store and a wedding planner’s office.
Photography is by Masato Kawano/Nacasa & Partners.
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