YYAA Renovates only the eastern half of an old Japanese house
Kusafushi House, designed by YYAA, is the renovation of the eastern half of a pre–WWII rowhouse located in Yagi-cho, Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The project focuses on adapting an abandoned historic structure while retaining elements of the existing building fabric and responding to the evolving character of the surrounding townscape.
Yagi-cho developed as a prosperous post town for more than a thousand years. Unlike the nearby district of Imai-cho, where Edo-period buildings are legally preserved, Yagi-cho has fewer regulations governing its historical environment. As a result, many pre-Showa buildings in the area have been demolished in recent years, gradually replaced by parking lots, prefabricated houses, and rental apartments.
The clients chose to remain in Yagi-cho while contributing to the continued use of its older building stock. With the support of a local non-profit organization involved in community development, they acquired the eastern portion of a large two-unit rowhouse that had remained vacant for nearly three decades.
bird’s eye view | all images courtesy of YYAA
Kusafushi House’s revamp breathes new life into an old frame
The building had deteriorated significantly due to prolonged closure, water infiltration, and termite damage. During the renovation process by YYAA design studio, the eastern half of the structure was stripped back to its primary structural elements. A concrete basement was installed, damaged posts and beams were replaced, and the structure was reinforced to improve seismic resistance, particularly in the event that the adjacent western half of the rowhouse might be removed in the future.
The single-story section of the house was dismantled and reassembled. Existing components were carefully selected and reused where possible. Floors, walls, and ceilings were insulated, while building services and exterior doors were replaced to meet contemporary requirements. Interior doors were repaired and retained as part of the existing material fabric.
The renovation prioritizes the continued use of existing construction methods and materials rather than replacing them with standardized contemporary systems. Through the selective preservation and adaptation of older elements, the project establishes a residential environment that accommodates current living conditions while maintaining traces of the building’s historical layers. This approach supports the broader aim of sustaining the cultural and architectural continuity of the Yagi-cho townscape.
south elevation
facade
‘otafuku’ style window
courtyard and kitchen
living room
kitchen and dining
dining
exposed beams
entrance
Japanese room
courtyard view
project info:
name: Kusafushi House
architect: YYAA | @housing.yyaa
location: Yagi-cho, Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, Japan
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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
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