Rusted steel and new wood shape Ichizu’s renovation
Designed by coil Kazuteru Matumura ArchitectsIchizu transforms two long-forsaken timber outbuildings hidden behind a family house in a shared kitchen and common area in Iguchido, Ikeda, Osaka. Located along the historic Nose Kaido Road, the project is the first phase of a phased effort to reopen an inherited family property for public use while preserving its existing character and multi-layered history. The space has been passed down from generation to generation and consists of a parking space, the main one homeand a warehouse overlooking the street. Beyond these buildings, a field extends to the rear of the property, where two small wooden outbuildings stand hidden from view. Originally used by the client’s grandfather as temporary housing for people in need, the structures sat vacant for many years and gradually became overgrown with vegetation.
Instead of replacing the buildings or restoring them to a previous state, the renovation preserves the physical traces of time embedded in the website. Existing rusty corrugator steel The cladding is preserved as a visible record of the property’s history, while the new interventions provide the durability and functionality required for contemporary use. The doors, interior finishes and kitchen facilities were redone using custom joinery, lauan plywood, stainless steel and scale steel. The restrained material palette creates a deliberate contrast between the newly introduced elements and the weathered surfaces of the original structures, allowing old and new materials to co-exist.
all images courtesy of Coil Kazuteru Matumura Architects
Weathered materials preserve the memory of hidden buildings
The order of arrival follows the existing organization of the property. Visitors move between the main house and the warehouse before reaching the field, where the renovated buildings gradually emerge from the landscape. This multi-layered approach maintains the spatial depth of the site while introducing new public activity to an area that had long remained private. Today, Ichizu serves as a communal kitchen and a place for guests to gather or rest while using the adjacent garden. The project is part of a wider, phased strategy to reactivate the entire property. The previously underused field became Wells Garden, a communal garden, while the existing warehouse across the street has been slightly renovated and now serves as Tsuru no Negoto, a shop specializing in antiques and vintage clothing. Each element currently operates independently, with future plans to include the construction of an additional kitchen near the main house to connect food preparation, the garden and communal activities throughout the area.
Instead of redeveloping the property as a single intervention, the project assigns new roles to the existing buildings and its landscape over time. The name Ichizu, meaning steadfast devotion, reflects the intention to care for the inherited architecture and adapt it for future generations through gradual transformation for each site. In addition to architectural design, Studio coil Kazuteru Matumura Architects developed the visual identities and logos for Ichizu, Wells Garden and Tsuru no Negoto. The client also participated in the first Ikeda Women’s Network (IWN) capacity building program organized by the city of Ikeda and received an IWN challenge grant, supporting the broader property reactivation initiative.
project information:
name: Ichizu
architect: coil Kazuteru Matumura Architects | @coil_matumura
location: Iguchido, Ikeda, Osaka, Japan
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edited by: Christina Vergopoulou | designboom
