Matsugasaki Machiya Renovation
Step-by-step articles from the renovation of a machiya in Matsugasaki, Kyoto.
Keeping the Changing Room Warm: Insulating Next to the New Bath (Matsugasaki, Part 4)新着!!
The changing room beside the new unit bath has a window and gets cold in winter. In Japan, a cold changing room is a real health concern, so we insulated it too. Here is why and how.
Rebuilding the Floor: New Joists, Beams and Termite Treatment in a Kyoto Machiya (Matsugasaki, Part 6)新着!!
With the floor of this Matsugasaki machiya opened up, we reinforced the joists and floor beams with new timber, ran new plumbing underneath, and applied termite treatment while everything was accessible.
Turning the Old Kitchen Into a Bathroom: Installing a Unit Bath in a Kyoto Machiya (Matsugasaki, Part 3)新着!!
In this Matsugasaki machiya, the bath was originally outside the house. We demolished the old kitchen, reinforced the earthen floor with concrete, and installed a modern Japanese unit bath in its place.
From Outdoor Bath to Covered Laundry Space: Reusing an Old Structure (Matsugasaki, Part 5)新着!!
This Matsugasaki machiya originally had its bath outside the house. Once the new indoor bathroom was in, we removed the old outdoor bath and built a roof over the spot, turning it into a covered outdoor laundry area.
Adding Insulation Behind the Walls of a Kyoto Machiya (Matsugasaki, Part 2)新着!!
The owner asked for insulation wherever it could be fitted. We removed the thin decorative plywood wall panels of this Matsugasaki machiya and added insulation behind them. Here is how it works in an old Kyoto house.
Lifting the Tatami: Termite Damage Under a Kyoto Machiya Floor (Matsugasaki, Part 1)新着!!
The first step in renovating a machiya in Matsugasaki, Kyoto: removing the tatami. Underneath, the sill of the sliding fusuma doors had been eaten by termites. Here is what we found and how we handled it.