Renovation

"Layering new living space into existing frames" (Kazuyo Sejima) 

Kazuyo Sejima of SANAA supervised the entire renovation project of UnknownSo.

As the second woman ever to receive the most prestigious Pritzker Prize in 2010, her practice spans cultural institutions, museums, and public architecture worldwide. Residential house renovation project of this scale is her first and only.

Drawn to the character of the 100-year-old machiya in Nishijin and shared belief with the owners, she redesigned the house with restraint, allowing its existing structure, light, and proportions to lead while “layering new living space into existing frames” (Jyutaku Tokushu Magazine, June 2024).

We documented the stories of renovation interviewing the lead architect (Yoshitaka Tanase, Partner at SANAA), metal workers and furniture workers.