Ogawa Sekkei transforms an old house into a landscape architecture studio with a rockery

«The space aims to contain the disorder of existing parts, newly established parts, and furnishings for the office,» said the architect. Photography is by Masato Kawano/Nacasa Partners
Ground floor plan – click for larger imageFirst floor plan – click for larger image A secluded rock   garden runs along one side of this former house that Japanese architect   Ogawa Sekkei has converted into a studio and showroom for a landscape architect (+ slideshow). The interior of the   showroom   features   an untreated oriented strand board (OSB) ceiling, black-painted walls and black tatami mat flooring. Related story: Live-in gallery and studio by Flat House hides utility rooms in a central cylinder As   the property is not owned by the client, he   avoided making irreversible alterations to the structure and instead restricted their   adjustments to interior space finishings and materials. A toilet, shower room and storage closet all sit alongside the entrance hall, while a staircase on the opposite side leads up to the architectural studio. The room is separated   from the entrance hall by a shallow step and slim strips of gauze   that flutter in the breeze. A   geodesic pendant lamp hangs above. A translucent screen made from traditional Japanese shoji paper descends   mid level across the plane of glass, directing the eye downwards towards the garden. Ogawa Sekkei   refurbished a   two-storey rental property on the outskirts of the city of Gifu to create the Enzo Office Gallery, which comprises a ground-floor showroom   with a narrow   courtyard, and an upstairs studio and lounge space. A thin tube light runs across the centre of the   ceiling to illuminate a work bench and shelving units that run the length of the space. The glass sits   80 centimetres back from   the outer   wall, creating   enough   space to insert the   narrow strip of landscaping, filled with pebbles   and backed by a Japanese cypress fence. Here, a   wooden framework that was once enveloped by a partition wall has been exposed and partially infilled with panes of glass to form a short corridor. «Since this is a rental property, the renovation is focused on the finishings of the wall, floor, and ceiling rather than changing the plan or section plans to create a space,» said the architect. The   walls are stained with white oil, leaving the wood grain exposed, and a selection of bushy   plants are dotted along the desktop and floor.