Meguro Architecture Laboratory renovates century-old wooden house into compliant structure

Meguro Architecture Laboratory has completed a renovation project called Una Casa, transforming a 100-year-old wooden house that had become an unauthorized structure due to repeated extensions and alterations. The project involved removing illegal additions, constructing a new foundation within the existing structure for seismic reinforcement, and applying fire-resistant wall cladding to meet current building regulations. Led by architects Mitsuru Hirai and Sayu Yamaguchi, the 148-square-meter renovation serves as a case study for similar wooden structures facing compliance challenges. Structural engineering was handled by Shimizu Structural Engineers, with photography by Shun Fukuda documenting the completed work. The project required reapplication for planning permission after bringing the house back to regulatory standards. Curated by Miwa Negoro, this residential renovation demonstrates how historical wooden buildings can be adapted to contemporary safety requirements while preserving their essential character.