Carrying the family home forward, a hundred years on
When an inherited family home sits vacant over the years, its asset value quietly erodes. In the Inheritance Lab, we look at how to keep a family home from becoming a liability.
The craft of plastering — spaces that breathe with lime and diatomaceous earth
The walls of a home are more than mere backdrop. Finished by the craft of plastering, lime and diatomaceous-earth walls breathe as they catch light and shadow.
Carrying a pre-1981 residence forward: seismic retrofit as asset protection
In 1981, Japan’s seismic standards for housing changed significantly. Residences built to the old standard often hold timeless design and harmony with the garden.
Non-conforming existing buildings as an asset — a view from the Regulation Lab
With each change in the law, buildings once fully lawful become structures that no longer conform to current rules. This is exactly what a non-conforming existing building is.
The time solid wood keeps — choosing species and designing for graceful aging
Some materials grow more beautiful the more time passes. Solid wood is a prime example. When we see aging not as decline but as maturing, how does a home change?
Designing for three generations under one roof — balancing privacy and connection
For three generations to live under one roof is not merely cohabitation, but a way of passing assets and values on to the next generation, carefully balancing closeness and distance.
What is used-condominium renovation? Costs, benefits, and points to watch
Your ideal home, in the location you love, at a controlled cost. We explain the costs, benefits, and points to watch in used-condominium renovation.
Building confirmation: what to know before renovating an older home
Non-conforming structures, building confirmation. The basics of regulation for safely carrying an older home forward, explained clearly.
What to consider first when inheriting your parents’ home
How to carry the family home forward. Not end-of-life planning, but choices about a home for the life ahead.
On choosing materials that grow more beautiful with age
Solid wood and plaster walls that gain character over time. How to choose materials for a home meant to last a hundred years.
How condominium renovation relates to management bylaws
Management bylaws are unavoidable when carrying a condominium forward. We lay out how far you can go with renovations.
On keeping a family’s memories alive within the home
A scratch on a pillar, the view from a window. We reflect on what it means to inherit a home together with its time — something a new build cannot offer.