The Red-Roofed Kominka: A Quiet Haven by the Koma River

This project involves renovating an old traditional Japanese house (kominka) located along the Koma River in Saitama Prefecture, transforming it into a vibrant hub that functions as both a workation space and a campground. Often celebrated as an accessible rustic escape from the city, the Koma area bustles with people enjoying outdoor activities across all four seasons. The stage for this project was a site featuring a traditional house with a striking red roof standing within a spacious yard. For cyclists riding along the river, this scenery had become a memorable and iconic view.

Architecture in Dialogue with Nature

While preserving the site’s natural charms—such as the vast front yard and the back path leading down to the Koma River—we revitalized the space to accommodate modern usage while maintaining the traditional silhouettes of the main building (omoya) and the lower wing (geya). Our goal was to balance a productive workspace where people can focus on their tasks with an experience that allows them to feel at one with nature.

In designing the space, we focused heavily on ensuring it seamlessly blends into the nature of Koma, while naturally remaining highly functional as a coworking space.

Instead of fighting the site’s natural vulnerability to flooding, we embraced it. The land was originally prone to water damage and retained high moisture levels, even carrying a risk of above-floor flooding during major typhoons.

We proposed a bold inversion: what if we removed the damaged flooring of the lower wing facing the yard, and extended a polished earthen floor (doma) deep into the interior, seamlessly merging the inside with the expansive yard? By treating the main flooring as an elevated high-floor, we created an interior experience where visitors step upward into the workspace. We believed that being able to relax or work on the sleek, polished earthen floor would create a comfortable experience uniquely rooted in this specific land.

As a result, we feel we have created a space that could only exist right here at CAWAZ base in Koma.

Creating a Place That Connects People and the Community

The concept of CAWAZ base is a “secret hideout.” We designed an exciting experience for visitors through a layout where they approach the seating area by climbing stairs from the entrance, as well as a design featuring dramatic shifts in ceiling height. Additionally, the vast front yard serves as a community gathering space—hosting events like local summer festivals—and plays the role of a hub connecting the community with people, and people with nature. While preserving the iconic red roof of the former traditional house, we have breathed new value into both its internal and external environments, revitalizing it as an important hub for the Koma area.

Designing the “Experience”

Driven by the client’s vision to “reinvigorate Japan’s creative energy and productivity from its rural communities,” our role extended beyond physical spatial design to comprehensive creative direction aimed at elevating local value and fostering momentum for regional development. By making regional resources visible, we aim to strengthen the connection and affection that both visitors and local residents feel toward the community.