This former factory in Nobeoka, Japan, now functions as a modern home for a couple who wanted to preserve the industrial legacy of the building. Considering the fact that the building was large enough to house production and manufacturing facilities, Schemata Architects reorganized the layout to include several voids that will serve as areas where the owners can enjoy their future hobbies.
The building occupies a corner lot in Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture in Japan. It grew over time to reach its current total area of 4736 square feet (440 square meters) distributed across two floors. Japanese magazine BRUTUS helped jumpstart the project by calling for readers who wanted to renovate their houses, then pairing those readers with their favorite architects.
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Schemata Architects renovated the building working in close collaboration with the client and his wife, who wanted the project to preserve the history of the building. In discussing the design, the team reached the conclusion that the optimal size of the residential part would be as small as 1829 square feet (170 square meters). This meant that there was a large unused floor area that had to somehow be incorporated into the concept.
They decided to keep these spaces as voids that will accommodate the clients’ future passions and hobbies. “Such voids, created somewhere between the interior and the building envelope, generate a dynamic space that raises expectations for something to happen,” said the architects.
Photos by Takumi Ota
