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The O residence is a 30 year-old wooden structured 2-story house currently under reconstruction, and stands on a quiet hill of Kyoto. Previously, the hall, dining room, kitchen, Japanese room and bathrooms were all placed on the 1st floor, and the 2nd floor was divided into 5 separate rooms. Architect Dai Nagasaka took away all the walls on the 2nd floor and created a spacious 80m2 living room and dining kitchen with a view that matches well with the American and European furniture, which the owner couple collected over years. As the original ceiling height of the 2nd floor was low, he took away the whole ceiling, revealing the structure to secure the height. Also, he created an arch finished with plaster, connecting the wall and ceiling from the east-west and south-north sides, which created unity and a new impression. The ceiling structure was lightly painted white to minimize its existence. The openings were reused as much as possible to keep the cost down, and walls were created to place a chest and furniture. The floor height of the east side was newly extended, and where living room is placed is 570mm higher than the existing west side. Mr. Nagasaka created a counter on the center of the steps, separating steps as the gentle steps on the north side and steps that functions as the TV rack on the south side. Columns and walls were added to strengthen the structure on the 1st floor, and a main bedroom, children’s rooms and ample closets were also created. The bathrooms were kept in their original positions to keep cost down, and only the wall between the powder room and the bathroom was changed to glass, inviting light into the spaces.

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