Rather than erasing all trace of this Kyoto townhouse's previous owners, Japanese architects Q-Architecture Laboratory preserved the earlier haphazard extensions as a timeline of the building's history.

Timeline Machiya is a traditional Kyoto townhouse, called a Kyo-machiya. Originally built in around 1935, it had been empty for the past decade.

An L-shaped extension was added to the house in between 1965 and 1980, but rather than remove this later addition, the architects chose to rehabilitate it for modern use.

On the ground floor, rooms are now arranged around the raised wood-panelled tatami room, which is traditionally used for tea ceremonies.

A new kitchen has been installed along the corridor linking the hall to the family area.

The ground floor bathroom has been extended and panelled in wood.

Stairs lead up from the hall to a desk area, children's bedroom and master bedroom.

A ladder reaches up into the attic, where the original roof beams are exposed and a rooflight has been added.

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Photographs are by Kai Nakamura Photography.

Here's some more information from the architects:

This is a combined restoration/remodel of an old Kyo-machiya (Kyoto-style traditional urban dwelling) in north Kyoto city. It was built circa 1935 and had been empty for the last ten years. It is composed of the original structure (omoya) and a first-floor extension to the south and west sides circa 1965-80.

The floor plan and the finishing materials changed significantly through a series of haphazard modifications. However, there also existed some attractive elements that effectively captured the "timeline" of the house as it passed through this series of renovations.

In particular, the L-shaped addition created a novel linkage between the omoya and garden which would rarely be seen in a newly-built house.

The clients lived in San Francisco for 15 years prior to moving to Kyoto. From the onset, they had a clear demand (unusual for Japanese) for a home that combined authentic and aesthetically rewarding old elements with simple, undisruptive new ones.

In light of these demands, an approach to the project was developed: to re-realise these impromptu renovations and effectively incorporate them into a "next life" for the structure.

In summary:
1. reinforcement/repair of damaged portions,
2. capturing the feeling of an accumulated timeline,
3. sunken floor (doma) transition from omoya to outside/garden, and
4. utilising the extension area for daily living (e.g., kitchen, dining)

There exist two typical approaches to remodeling Kyo-machiya. One is to preserve only the basic structure (or shell) and modernise the interior. The second is to regard the structure as a traditional "artifact" and restore it to its original state.

Although I don't intend to rate these two approaches, both share the perspective of focusing on one point in time (the present or the origin), and not considering the passage of time running through the home.

Many Kyo-machiya built in the early 20th century have undergone numerous renovations over the years, and these events are generally not acknowledged in the new design.

Unadmirable remodelings are often encountered, but they are indeed a part of the accumulated architectural history. I wonder if we can gently accept this timeline as valid, and "layer on" a new life rather than wiping an old one away.

Above: the house in 1935

"Timeline Machiya" was named by the client to represent the passing of time, both of the structure itself, but also of the project, from the initial consulting through to the construction and finishing.

Above: the house circa 1950

This secondary timeline was also deemed important, as a variety of design changes were made as the project progressed and the evolving structure revealed new approaches and ideas.

Above: the house circa 1965

Above: the house circa 1980