![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/03/dzn_House-by-Shuichiro-Yoshida-1.jpg)
House in Bizan by Shuichiro Yoshida
Japanese architect Schuichiro Yoshida have renovated the ground floor of a two-storey house in Tokushima, Japan, demolishing everything except the columns and foundations while leaving the upper floor intact.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/03/dzn_House-by-Shuichiro-Yoshida-18.jpg)
The clients had already extended the original one-storey 1970's house with a first floor steel extension.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/03/dzn_House-by-Shuichiro-Yoshida-4.jpg)
Yoshida demolished the ground floor, retaining the supporting structure, and constructed a wooden living area and tatami room with views over mount Bizan.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/03/dzn_House-by-Shuichiro-Yoshida-7.jpg)
The following information is from the architects:
House in Bizan
The house in Transformation
The owner obtained one-story house in 1974, and they added the upper floor of steel structure after 2 years. And moreover, they extended kitchen space in 1999.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/03/dzn_House-by-Shuichiro-Yoshida-8.jpg)
The former ground floor was divided in some small rooms and there was not space large enough for them to enjoy their time with their guests.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/03/dzn_House-by-Shuichiro-Yoshida-9.jpg)
In 2008 the owner decided to restore the ground floor to be more comfortable.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/03/dzn_House-by-Shuichiro-Yoshida-12.jpg)
The ground floor is demolished except its structure such as columns, beams and foundations.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/03/dzn_House-by-Shuichiro-Yoshida-10.jpg)
The walls, eaves, floors, ceilings are all renovated. A larger room was planned with a new Japanese “Tatami” room added into the existing garden.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/03/dzn_House-by-Shuichiro-Yoshida-11.jpg)
Although this site is surrounded by Mt. Bizan, symbol of Tokushima city, the former house wasn’t in good condition for looking at the mountain from the ground floor.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/03/dzn_House-by-Shuichiro-Yoshida-6.jpg)
In this project the windows and eaves are carefully placed so that they could enjoy the view of Mt. Bizan beyond neighbor houses and their gardens.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/03/dzn_House-by-Shuichiro-Yoshida-5.jpg)
Materials
Exterior walls, eaves, ceilings and flames of interior fittings: Japanese cedar
Interior wall finish: white plasterer finish of traditional Japanese material “shikkui”
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/03/dzn_House-by-Shuichiro-Yoshida-13.jpg)
Floor finish: white oak flooring, Japanese “Tatami”(straw-covered reed mats)
Windows, exterior fitting: yellow cedar
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/03/dzn_House-by-Shuichiro-Yoshida-2.jpg)
Furniture, doors: white ash
Sliding doors: lattice doors of yellow cedar covered with Japanese paper “Shoji”
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/03/dzn_House-by-Shuichiro-Yoshida-3.jpg)
Location: Tokushima Japan
Type: House for single family (Restoration of ground floor)
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/03/dzn_House-by-Shuichiro-Yoshida-14.gif)
Construction area: 80m2
Architect: Shuichiro Yoshida Architect
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/03/dzn_House-by-Shuichiro-Yoshida-15.gif)
Construction: Homare Kensetsu
Date of completion: July 2009
Photographer: Akira Yonezu
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/03/dzn_House-by-Shuichiro-Yoshida-16.gif)
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/03/dzn_House-by-Shuichiro-Yoshida-17.gif)