*KANBAN-style; Billboard architecture, built in the early Showa period. Typically the ground floor is served as retail space, with displaying windows at the storefront.

© Jérémie Souteyrat

Architects: Rei Mitsui Architects

Location: Nihonbashi, Chuo, Tokyo 103-0027, Japan

Structural Engineer: Tetsuya Emura

Project Year: 2016

Photographs: Jérémie Souteyrat

Parametric Programming: Yusuke Oono/ Domino Architects

© Jérémie Souteyrat

*KANBAN-style; Billboard architecture, built in the early Showa period. Typically the ground floor is served as retail space, with displaying windows at the storefront.

© Jérémie Souteyrat
Diagram

© Jérémie Souteyrat

The client's request was simple. First, to keep the facade of the Billboard architecture. Second, to enforce seismic retrofit to resist earthquakes.

© Jérémie Souteyrat

There was a tailor shop closed for over ten years. The existing building was almost abandoned, and the damage was disastrous. Although it seemed impossible, the client strongly wished for the building to remain. We decided to lift-up the complete building, and reconstruct the whole foundation and damaged elements.

Plan

There was no earthquake resisting elements at ground floor. If we chosen ordinary way of...