Sa_Yu House by FATHOM: Redefining Modern Living Through Renovation and Extension

A Harmonious Blend of Past and Present

Sa_Yu House, designed by FATHOM Architects, is a masterclass in residential architecture that harmoniously intertwines history, innovation, and daily life. Situated on a hilly site in Kure City, Hiroshima, this project transforms a 70-year-old wooden house into a modern home that honors its past while embracing the future. By merging renovation and extension, Sa_Yu House evolves from a private residence into a space of relationships—connecting people, spaces, and time.

Segmentation and Connection: Crafting a New Lifestyle

The renovation process began with a careful study of the house’s layered history, selectively dismantling previous extensions to reveal the original structure. A striking reinforced concrete (RC) void was inserted to link the courtyard and entrance vertically. This thoughtful segmentation separates private rooms, the LDK wing, and the community extension while maintaining a natural connection through light, airflow, and circulation.

The design fosters psychological and physical balance, providing spaces for both solitude and shared moments. Each section of the home is individually distinct yet organically integrated, creating a flexible layout that adapts to daily life.

LDK Wing: The Heart of the Home

At the center of Sa_Yu House lies the LDK (Living, Dining, Kitchen) wing, designed to rethink daily life. Household appliances like the refrigerator, television, and range hood are seamlessly integrated into custom wood and steel cabinetry, minimizing visual clutter. Exposed original beams meet a newly crafted ceiling, connected by a single black string light—a symbolic line tracing the passage of time between old and new.

The slightly sunken living floor encourages natural seating along the floor edge, enhancing intimacy and comfort. A west-facing fixed window softly captures street sounds, while the inward-facing courtyard brings greenery close, creating a tranquil interplay between interior shadow and exterior light.

RC Void: Light, Time, and Connection

The RC void serves as the central hub of the home, linking the LDK and private wings. Frameless skylights and large courtyard openings bathe the space in diffused natural light, reflecting softly off exposed concrete. A 65mm-thick acrylic bench positioned under the skylight becomes a contemplative focal point, reminding occupants of time’s gentle passage. This transitional space blurs dualities—inside and outside, solitude and togetherness, stillness and movement.

Movable partitions within each segmented zone allow the home to adapt fluidly to seasonal changes or social gatherings, transforming the interior layout while maintaining harmony.

Community Wing: Extending Life Outward

The newly added community wing extends the home beyond its original footprint, replacing a former barn with a semi-underground structure that follows the hill’s contours. Reinforced concrete and steel framing create a durable foundation, while silver-painted fiber-cement boards with exposed joints enhance the exterior’s dynamic aesthetic.

Inside, a large reception table and carved benches encourage interaction, while a spiral staircase opens to a two-story community space. The design invites human activity to flow vertically, blending topography, structure, and light into a vibrant living environment.

Private Wing: Crafting Stillness Through Design

The private wing focuses on privacy, calm, and sensory experience. Louvered shutters allow occupants to adjust light, sightlines, and ventilation, producing soft shadows on plaster walls. Diagonal walls echo those in the community wing, visually uniting the old and new structures. The home fosters a sense of stillness and reflection, offering intimate connection with both nature and architecture.

Editing Life Through Architecture

Sa_Yu House goes beyond traditional renovation—it reinterprets daily life as an evolving experience. Interior and exterior, private and communal spaces are connected through gradients rather than rigid boundaries. The design encourages inhabitants to edit their way of life, balancing coexistence between past and future, solitude and community.

Through its thoughtful segmentation, adaptable layout, and interwoven extension, Sa_Yu House is more than a home—it is a medium for living fully, mindfully, and in harmony with time.

All photographs are works of Tatsuya Tabii