A modest two-story wooden house from the 1970s in Fueda, Kamakura, has been carefully renovated to suit the lifestyle of a young couple and their pets. The redesign strikes a balance between functionality, comfort, and thoughtful design, creating a home that feels both practical and welcoming.
Project Name: Fueda House
Studio Name: Roovice
Construction Year: 2022
Lead Architects: Maoko Sato, Masaki Yamada | ROOVICE
Photography: Akira Nakamura
Subtle Updates for a Relaxed Charm
The house, complete with a spacious garden, features walls that mix different finishes. Spray-textured coatings resembling exterior walls are paired with sections left in their original state, resulting in a relaxed, slightly “mismatched” aesthetic. This understated approach preserves the home’s original character while avoiding excessive uniformity.
Enlarging the Kitchen for Everyday Practicality
The formerly compact kitchen was reimagined into a more functional L-shaped layout, providing ample space for cooking and daily tasks. A durable hard-plaster countertop was chosen for its resilience and timeless appeal. The living-dining-kitchen (LDK) area was upgraded with PVC long sheet flooring, ensuring easy maintenance—an ideal choice for a pet-friendly household.
Maximizing Light and Open Space
A standout feature of the living room is its double-height lightwell, which floods the space with natural daylight through narrow windows, creating an airy and open ambiance. To amplify this effect, walls on the first floor were removed, connecting the living room to the kitchen and a former tatami room. Exposed wooden pillars were retained to ensure structural integrity while adding warmth and texture.
The ceilings in the kitchen and former tatami room were opened up to reveal wooden beams, adding rustic charm and a sense of spaciousness. Additionally, the entrance was seamlessly integrated into the living area, enhancing the home’s flow and creating a welcoming atmosphere.
Thoughtful Design for Pets
The renovation thoughtfully incorporates pet-friendly features. Doorways include pathways for easy navigation, while custom-built catwalks provide vertical exploration spaces for cats. These additions reflect the couple’s lifestyle, ensuring the home is both comfortable and accommodating for their pets.
Simplified and Functional Second Floor
Upstairs, unnecessary partitions were removed to create a more open and efficient layout. Tatami mats and carpets were replaced with oak wooden flooring, providing a cohesive and practical surface suited for modern living with pets.
A Harmonious Blend of Practicality and Comfort
This renovation transforms a simple wooden house into a tranquil and functional home for both humans and animals. Through modest yet thoughtful updates, the result is a serene space where charm and practicality coexist seamlessly.
