An article introducing the life of Felix Conran and Emily Smith, titled
'The Makeover Story of a Forest House,' has been published.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved who meticulously conveyed the "design story" nurtured in the beautiful nature of Higashi-Yoshino through interviews and photography.
The article introduces the process of renovating a 140-year-old traditional house and revitalizing it as "a house that lives with the forest."
Utilizing local materials such as Yoshino cedar and cypress, and Japanese craftsmanship, on the site of a dilapidated silkworm shed,
the endeavor to integrate a new design sensibility is also the origin of Ha Partners' activities.
At the center of the living room is a fireplace, a modern reconstruction of the former irori (hearth).
The floor is laid with Yoshino cedar and Yoshino cypress wood tiles produced by Ha Partners.
And the persimmon trees and river flowing outside the window softly connect nature and architecture.
Emily's words, "having nature in our lives," and Felix's words, "the power of design to improve people's lives," are literally breathed into the space.
In the bathroom, the diatomaceous earth walls, utilizing traditional Japanese curved construction methods, and the tiles reflecting the green of the forest are impressive.
The tatami layout and storage design in the bedroom embody the Japanese aesthetic of dimensions based on a single tatami mat.
Every detail reflects the attitude of "learning from the land and inheriting culture."
The exterior walls apply the traditional "yoroi-bari" (overlapping planks) method, providing both modern durability and breathability.
In the outdoor gazebo, pillars made from repurposed fallen forest trees stand quietly, symbolizing a life in harmony with nature.
It is not a finished product, but "a house that will continue to change."
Emily's words, "A house is not complete from the start," seem to tell the whole story of this house.
Through this house-building process, we at Ha Partners also reaffirmed the importance of "design that connects local materials and techniques to the future."
It is about breathing new life into old houses while preserving the memory of the land, rather than destroying them.
We believe this is the form of sustainable and rich living.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the editorial team for publishing such a wonderful article, the local residents who cooperated with the photoshoot,
and everyone who has walked with us through the story of the forest house.
Ha Partners will continue to explore designs where nature and people, tradition and the future resonate, and
will transmit new forms of living from Higashi-Yoshino.
▼The magazine is available here
https://andpremium.jp/book/premium-no-141/#swiper-4-slide-1
Takumi Matsuda
Ha Partners