Mr. Saimoto, who is utilizing a traditional Kyoto townhouse in the community.
The Saimoto residence is located on a side street just off the main road. It was originally a row house consisting of two connected units, where an elderly woman lived alone.
This place, which had been used for many years as the venue for the Jizo Bon festival, was put up for sale. Concerned that this would mean the loss of a place for community interaction, Mr. Saimoto's father decided to purchase it.
That being said, it is an old building. I was also worried about whether it could be used safely by the local community.
So, she consulted with the "NPO Association for the Preservation of Old Timber Culture," which led to them working on its restoration, and she also ended up inheriting ownership of the townhouse from her father.
Key points of the renovation
A newly installed kitchen and toilet; the toilet door utilizes the old fixtures.
Reused old roof tiles
The renovation was carried out with a focus on modern usability, such as placing the kitchen and toilet indoors, while also preserving the original structure and design of the building, making use of the wooden framework.
By preserving usable parts and not completely fixing them in place, we've made it possible to withstand earthquakes. We're also reusing high-quality old roof tiles.
Businesses that utilized
The following projects were skillfully utilized in the renovation of the Saimoto residence.
◆ Seismic diagnosis (Support project for seismic reinforcement of Kyoto townhouses)
◆ Kyoto Machiya Town Development Fund Renovation Grant Program
◆ Kyoto City Locally Produced Timber Supply Project
The floor in the middle of the three rooms lined up in a row, and the wainscoting of the newly installed toilet, are made from cedar wood sourced from Kyoto City.
Furthermore, they are also providing this renovation process as a venue for carpenters to study and learn.
The mud walls, made from recycled soil from the walls and roof, were apparently created by a volunteer "wall-plastering team."
The Charm of Kyoto Townhouses
Delicate fixtures that allow you to enjoy the changing light.
After approximately 10 months of restoration, the Saimoto residence has been transformed into a safe and reliable townhouse. It is now used as a venue for local events such as the Jizo-bon festival, as well as community gatherings and other events.
The "shifting light" is beautiful, and it's a space that strangely calms the mind. They also mentioned that it might have health benefits.
They also plan to consider management and operational systems so that the space can continue to be used by a wide range of people, including the local community.