New Machiya

Residential living has developed to always require today’s modern comforts sometimes at the expense of heritage. However admittedly it may be, residences of purely traditional design does not necessarily satisfy the needs and wants of modern society. Thus, there is room for a solution balancing heritage with modernity.

Heritage and modern comforts are both familiar to the modern indivudal. By introducing a balance in both areas, familiarity is introduced as a reminder of the past with room for the future.

Innovating the machiya, the traditional townhouse in a Japanese city, to modern standards could allow a continued appreciation for the traditions that are connected to its construction. Mixing the old with the new would also require the redesign of the architectural elements of the machiya with modern human comfort in mind to decide which to retain and which to remove.

Traditional crafts relevant to the reinvention of the machiya can receive a boost of interest and business helping the local community maintain its livelihood and preserve its crafts for future generations. The people that would be using this house can develop an interest on the traditional crafts of their community. Moreover, maintaining all services needed for the development of this design within the local community can help the local economy, local society, and local environment.

This project is connected to the House Interiors project under Interior.