Refurbishment in Bunkyo by office m-sa

Studio: office m-sa
Location: Bunkyo, Tokyo
Phase: Finished construction
Gross Floor Area: 70m2
Design Date: 2020-2021
Construction Date: 2021
Developer: Private
Architects: Meiri Shinohara(office m-sa)
Photographs: ©Kazuhisa Kota

An open layout view of the living room, dining area, and kitchen under an industrial ceiling.
An open layout view of the living room, dining area, and kitchen under an industrial ceiling.
White subway tile backsplash adds visual interest to the bright kitchen.
White subway tile backsplash adds visual interest to the bright kitchen.
Home entry with a leather chair and a built-in bench over concrete flooring.
Home entry with a leather chair and a built-in bench over concrete flooring.
Narrow openings lead to the living space.
Narrow openings lead to the living space.
View of the living area from the corridor.
View of the living area from the corridor.
Living room with a chesterfield sofa, a leather lounge chair, and a TV surrounded by floating shelves.
Living room with a chesterfield sofa, a leather lounge chair, and a TV surrounded by floating shelves.
The living room includes a window seat overlooking the garden.
The living room includes a window seat overlooking the garden.
The shelves are specially made for the cats giving them their own private space.
The shelves are specially made for the cats giving them their own private space.
The shelves are also used as a bookshelf and for displays of various decors.
The shelves are also used as a bookshelf and for displays of various decors.
The kitchen is integrated with a study nook to allow multitasking.
The kitchen is integrated with a study nook to allow multitasking.
A large window takes in great garden views and ample natural light.
A large window takes in great garden views and ample natural light.
Exposed pipes and built-in shelves are mirrored in the bedroom.
Exposed pipes and built-in shelves are mirrored in the bedroom.
The primary bathroom is clad in a white subway tile backsplash. It has a wooden vanity and a tub and shower combo enclosed in a frameless glass panel.
The primary bathroom is clad in a white subway tile backsplash. It has a wooden vanity and a tub and shower combo enclosed in a frameless glass panel.
A small archway provides the cats access to the bathroom.
A small archway provides the cats access to the bathroom.
Lovely potted plants and a lush garden adorn the home façade.
Lovely potted plants and a lush garden adorn the home façade.
Night view of the house with ambient lights giving a cozy and warm ambiance.
Night view of the house with ambient lights giving a cozy and warm ambiance.
Main level floor plan of the vintage apartment.
Main level floor plan of the vintage apartment.

A refurbishment project of a flat in a vintage apartment built in 1963. The clients are a couple living with two cats and a dog. We installed a shelf in the living room so that the cats can climb up to the ceiling to create a space where client can live together with their pets.

Since the garden is facing south, we tried to create a layout that maximizes the natural light of the garden, and set up a small workspace in the extension of the kitchen with a view of the garden.

The interior uses the same tiles as the characteristic existing exterior walls, giving the impression that the outdoor environment continues inside. By trying to make the best use of the materials remaining in the existing building and the context, we hope to find value that cannot be obtained in new construction.

Unlike existing apartments in the city center, where each room has its own role, by giving as many roles as possible and eliminating the boundaries between rooms, it is possible to find a place to belong in various places. I try to set up a gimmick. We tried to create an open space by using recesses to separate the spaces, with no doors except for the bathroom.

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