![House in Okusawa / Schemata Architects - Windows](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5049/4e95/28ba/0d0c/6200/01a9/newsletter/stringio.jpg?1416114689)
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Architects: Schemata Architects
- Area: 136 m²
- Year: 2009
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Photographs: Takumi Ota
Text description provided by the architects. This is a renovation project. The house was built during the post-war era of Japan, when the influence of western design became popular. The superficial imitation of western architecture was used for the design of common housing, as seen in so-called Provence or English style houses in Japan.
![House in Okusawa / Schemata Architects - Windows, Facade](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5049/4ecc/28ba/0d0c/6200/01af/newsletter/stringio.jpg?1416114696)
As a part of this trend, the house in Okusawa sought to imitate the English brick house. It had a triangular wooden gable, typical of the English roof, while it also included a parapet. At first sight it looks like a RC structure, but this is misleading; the wooden beams are reinforced by steel frames to lessen the number of interior pillars. While the house might be superficial, it retains a certain charm that reminds us of familiar human feelings.
![House in Okusawa / Schemata Architects - Wood, Beam](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5049/4ea7/28ba/0d0c/6200/01ab/newsletter/stringio.jpg?1416114728)
Rather than denying its immaturity out of the post-war period, we have taken a gentle and positive attitude towards it and renovated it into a home suitable for today.
![](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5049/5116/28ba/0d0c/5900/0165/newsletter/stringio.jpg?1416114741)