Home for Family by Koki Sugawara Architects: A Thoughtful Renovation for Multigenerational Living in Japan

Located in Japan's Kanto region, Home for Family by Koki Sugawara Architects is a deeply personal renovation project that breathes new life into a two-story residence passed down through generations. Originally owned by the client’s parents, the house is reimagined as a warm, flexible home for a new nuclear family—one that honors its past while adapting to contemporary family life.

Renovation with Purpose: Balancing Volume and Function

The existing home spans approximately 178 square meters, a size considered excessive for the family's current needs. While a full-scale renovation was initially desired, budgetary constraints due to the home’s volume led to a more nuanced approach. The architects proposed a selective renovation strategy: retaining the first floor with minimal updates for potential use by the grandparents in the future, and focusing the transformation on the second floor, where the family's day-to-day life now unfolds.

This approach reflects a sustainable design philosophy, utilizing existing infrastructure efficiently while reducing material waste and construction costs—principles increasingly important in both urban Japanese housing and global architectural discourse.

Maximizing Light, Space, and Vertical Experience

In Japan's densely populated residential neighborhoods, natural light and ventilation are often limited by proximity to neighboring buildings. To overcome this, the architects devised an inventive solution: replacing a portion of the roof with glass panels to bring sunlight into the upper level. Sliding doors further open the interior to the outdoors, creating a semi-outdoor courtyard-like space that functions as a veranda—a rare luxury in tight urban settings.

This vertical layering of space adds a sense of depth and spatial richness. The design carefully considers not only floor plans but also sectional relationships, producing a heterogeneous spatial experience that adapts to the rhythms of family life.

Materiality as Spatial Narrative

Interior finishes play a crucial role in shaping the home's character. Textural diversity in flooring materials—ranging from tiles and hardwood to sisal and FRP—offers a tactile journey through the home. Each transition marks a shift in function or atmosphere, allowing inhabitants to feel spatial change underfoot. Exposed wooden beams and precise detailing further ground the renovation in craftsmanship and warmth, key hallmarks of Japanese residential architecture.

A Flexible Family-Centered Home

The redesigned upper level prioritizes connectivity, comfort, and adaptability. Open yet delineated living areas support modern lifestyles while maintaining privacy and intimacy. The home now serves as a dynamic environment where parents and children can grow together, while the lower level remains accessible for intergenerational use, underscoring the home’s long-term usability.

All Photographs are works of Hirota Tatsuya