“A renovation project of three rental units in Mejiro, Tokyo.”

The existing floor plans of the apartments lacked an open flow from the living and dining areas to the balcony, creating a closed-off and confined living space with bedrooms lined up along the balcony side. To address this issue, two plan options were proposed for the three units.

In unit 601, the first step was to raise the ceiling height by approximately 20cm, creating a spacious living and dining area with ample volume. The rooms were then arranged in parallel, resulting in a 2LDK (two-bedroom apartment with a living, dining, and kitchen area). To enhance insulation and soundproofing, wooden sashes were layered in front of the existing windows, and wood was predominantly used as the main material throughout the space. As a result, the unit now boasts an open and inviting atmosphere that defies its 25-year-old building age.