coil kazuteru matumura converts hidden timber outbuildings into shared kitchen in osaka

Rusted Steel and New Timber Shape the Renovation of Ichizu

Designed by coil Kazuteru Matumura Architects, Ichizu transforms two long-abandoned timber outbuildings hidden behind a family home into a shared kitchen and community space in Iguchido, Ikeda, Osaka. Located along the historic Nose Kaido road, the project forms the first phase of a gradual effort to reopen an inherited family property for public use while preserving its existing character and layered history. The site has been passed down through generations and consists of a parking area, the main house, and a storehouse facing the street. Beyond these buildings, a field extends toward the rear of the property, where two small timber outbuildings stand concealed from view. Originally used by the client’s grandfather as temporary housing for people in need, the structures remained vacant for many years and gradually became overgrown with vegetation.

Rather than replacing the buildings or restoring them to an earlier condition, the renovation preserves the physical traces of time embedded in the site. Existing rusted corrugated steel cladding is retained as a visible record of the property’s history, while new interventions provide the durability and functionality required for contemporary use. Doors, interior finishes, and kitchen facilities were renewed using custom timber joinery, lauan plywood, stainless steel, and mill-scale steel. The restrained material palette establishes a deliberate contrast between newly introduced elements and the weathered surfaces of the original structures, allowing both old and new materials to coexist.

all images courtesy of coil Kazuteru Matumura Architects

Weathered Materials Preserve the Memory of Hidden Buildings

The arrival sequence follows the property’s existing organization. Visitors move between the main house and the storehouse before reaching the field, where the renovated buildings gradually emerge from the landscape. This layered approach preserves the spatial depth of the site while introducing new public activity into an area that had long remained private. Today, Ichizu functions as a shared kitchen and a place for visitors to gather or rest while using the adjacent garden. The project is part of a broader, incremental strategy to reactivate the entire property. The previously underused field has become Wells Garden, a shared garden, while the existing street-side storehouse has been lightly renovated and now operates as Tsuru no Negoto, a shop specializing in antiques and vintage clothing. Each component currently functions independently, with future plans including the construction of an additional kitchen near the main house to connect food preparation, the garden, and communal activities across the site.

Rather than redeveloping the property as a single intervention, the project assigns new roles to its existing buildings and landscape over time. The name Ichizu, meaning steadfast dedication, reflects the intention to care for inherited architecture and adapt it for future generations through gradual, site-specific transformation. In addition to the architectural design, Studio coil Kazuteru Matumura Architects developed the visual identities and logos for Ichizu, Wells Garden, and Tsuru no Negoto. The client also participated in the first Ikeda Women’s Network (IWN) capacity-building program organized by the City of Ikeda and received an IWN Challenge Grant, supporting the broader initiative to reactivate the property.

project info:

name: Ichizu

architect: coil Kazuteru Matumura Architects | @coil_matumura

location: Iguchido, Ikeda, Osaka, Japan

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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