Kamakura House Renovation Creates Harmonious Old-New Blend

Roovice has renovated a private house in Kamakura, Japan, originally built in 1991. Located amid hillside nature, the design removes walls to create a spacious kitchen and living room, transforming a former kitchen into a hobby confectionery. The renovation balances old and new, keeping the building’s history visible by exposing the wooden structure in the living room.

Warm, rustic living space with exposed wood beams, yellow sofa, and lush indoor plants.

Natural Landscape and Original Layout

Built in 1991, Kamakura House is located on a hillside in Ōmachi, a locality within the historical city of Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The property is surrounded by nature, offering scenic views in every direction. Initially, the house featured separate enclosed areas for the kitchen, living room, and a Japanese-style room, leading to inefficient use of space and complex interior circulation.
Warm, rustic living space with wooden ceiling beams, large windows, and lush greenery.

Redesigned Kitchen and Living Spaces

Roovice’s thoughtful redesign involved removing the dividing wall between the living and tatami rooms on the first floor, creating an open-plan kitchen and living area spanning the north-south axis of the plan. A new island was strategically placed near the south end of the plan, transforming the former kitchen into a hobby confectionery. The corner in front of the counter was smoothed with a rounded plasterboard to improve the internal flow.
Rustic wooden beams, large windows, and natural decor create a cozy, modern interior.

The kitchen’s new counter is adorned with 10x10cm white tiles from the Japanese modern era, introducing a nostalgic element to the renovated space. The island doubles as a secondary dining area for the homeowners and has quickly become the hub of family life.

To enhance natural lighting and spatial aesthetics, wide openings along the western wall were utilised, allowing for walling of two south-end windows in favour of a kitchen shelf.

Rustic kitchen with exposed wooden beams, tile countertops, and large windows overlooking nature.

Balancing Old and New Elements

Given the generous size of the house and a limited budget, the renovation focused on updating the spaces that needed it most. To harmoniously blend old and new aspects, Roovice emphasized the building’s age by exposing the wooden structure in the living room ceiling. Large-sized tiles with a reflective surface were chosen for the flooring, complementing the wood’s texture and appearance.
Rustic wooden beams, modern kitchen with white cabinetry, and a minimalist floral accent.
Significant changes were made to the former first-floor Japanese-style room. The storage area was incorporated into the living space, significantly expanding the atmosphere. The inner engawa’s sunroom now houses a bookshelf from the previous storage, serving as a creative area within the home when closed behind the original Yukimi Shoji.
A cozy kitchen with wooden beams, tile flooring, and a modern, built-in cabinetry design.

Minimal Updates on Upper Level

On the upper level, a different approach was taken, with minimal changes due to budget constraints and the well-preserved condition of existing features. The toilet was updated with a wooden floor, reminiscent of the hallway and other bedrooms. The studio in the southwest corner also received a new floor, entirely DIY with a woven texture by the owners. Finally, the sliding doors in the Japanese-style bedroom were replaced with a darker tone to better match the materiality of the rest of the home.
A spacious, open-concept living room and kitchen with exposed wooden beams and modern decor.
Welcoming foyer with wooden stairs, decorative alcove, and patterned rug.
A modern bathroom with rectangular tiles, a large bathtub, and a window offering a view.

Photography by Akira Nakamura
Visit Roovice

- by Matt Watts

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