The Arakawa House project entails refurbishing a two-story wooden structure dating back to the 1970s in Arakawa ward, in the northeastern corner of Tokyo metropolis.
Project Name: Arakawa House
Studio Name: Roovice
Lead Architects: Daiki Kasagi, Koji Kato
Site Manager: Koji Kato
Photography: Akira Nakamura
Formerly, the ground floor operated as an electronics shop, while the upper floor likely functioned as a dormitory judging from its layout. Vacant for over 7 years before the new owner’s intervention, the property’s considerable size and disjointed floor plan made it challenging to attract tenants, prompting the decision to renovate under our Kariage initiative. By handling the renovation at zero cost to the owner, we address the issue of Japan’s growing akiya (vacant house) problem, with over 10 million empty properties across the nation.
Over the years, the house underwent numerous alterations, resulting in an unconventional layout and the absence of an external staircase. We opted to completely rethink the spatial organization, crafting two distinct vertical units, each featuring a ground-floor shop or studio space and an upper-level residence.
Unit 1
Positioned on the left side of the building when facing it, Unit 1 retains the original facade of the shop and the lower-level flooring at the front. A new custom-made shelving unit constructed from lauan plywood now occupies the central area, doubling as a bench. The ceilings boards were taken off, the exposed beams were painted white to enlighten the space and lighting rails were installed. A teak wood parquet flooring was laid on the upper level, while a PVC sheet flooring was utilized for the kitchenette area. To visually delineate the kitchenette, a partition wall was installed. Although the washroom underwent renovation, the bathroom and toilet retained their period-typical tiles.
We found there was a large opening in the wall on the top of the back entrance, made to access the space on the back roof, which was apparently used as storage. We sealed it off to improve insulation, and installed a fixed window to enhance natural light within the shop.
As for the upper floor, it was separated from Unit A by closing the connecting door with a white panel. While ceiling boards were removed in the kitchen area, they were retained in other spaces.
The traditional Japanese-style room with a ranma and an altar used for worshiping the ancestors remain unchanged. Tatami flooring was retained there, while new lauan plywood board flooring was laid in other rooms. A PVC sheet flooring was applied in the kitchen area. Behind a half-height partition wall, a custom-made lauan plywood kitchen was installed. Custom shelves made from the same wood were placed on the opposite wall, beneath the window. Additionally, the unit features a round staircase leading to the rooftop, which was highlighted by painting it red.
Unit 2
Ceiling boards were removed in the shop area, and walls and windows were painted white. We kept the original flooring and created one step at the entrance to the back area, which we reduced in size to gain more space for the shop. Unlike Unit 1, Unit 2 features a firm division between the commercial and residential areas on the ground floor, achieved through the installation of a wall and door.
The washroom incorporates recycled wooden boards behind the mirror, maintaining a connection with the building’s history. Accessing the second floor required constructing a new staircase from rubber-laminated timber. Lauan boards flooring was installed throughout the upper level, complemented by a simple kitchen made from the same wood. Walls were primarily painted white, with some retaining the traditional gray paint.
