I-Kanda Architects has relocated and renovated the Minka Farmhouse in Massachusetts, United States.

The Minka Farmhouse renovation embodies a dialogue between two cultures – a thoughtful exchange of traditional craftsmanship, techniques and customs.

In 2020, a 300-year-old traditional timberframe farmhouse was identified in the village of Tane, Japan, for relocation to the United States.

The house had suffered damage in a typhoon and the family of rice farmers who had owned it for generations faced the difficult choice between costly repairs and its demolition.

Meanwhile, the structure sat in a state of increasing disrepair; therefore, relocation offered a unique opportunity.

In giving a second lease of life to the farmhouse, a balance was found between authenticity to the past and longevity for the future.