Kotagede Silver Works

A century-old joglo compound repaired and reopened as a working silver studio, with the new inserted as furniture so the old structure is never touched.

The compound had stood half-empty since the 2006 earthquake. Survey work took four months: every column, tie and roof member was recorded, and the original soko guru frame was found to be sound once the later block infill was removed.

Everything new is free-standing. Workbenches, the annealing bay and the mezzanine store sit on their own steel feet, clear of the historic timber, so the insertion can be reversed entirely without leaving a mark.

The courtyard was returned to open ground and now doubles as the polishing yard by day and a public demonstration space during the monthly market — the reason the neighbourhood supported the change of use in the first place.