At the Bott Memorial Home, a children’s home in Machida City, Tokyo, Habitat Japan’s project to build a long-awaited craft room has finally been completed.

As part of our Facility Improvement program, which works to address the needs of communal spaces and welfare facilities, like children’s homes, to maintain and upgrade their spaces. The Facility Improvement program develops plans, raises funds, and manages construction to support small- to medium-scale renovation of facilities needs that can’t be covered by government subsidies. With the support of partner organizations and the direct engagement of corporate and individual volunteers, Habitat Japan works to build communities and build a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Craft Room “Noah” is Born

Habitat Japan has supported the Bott Memorial Home for many years, with work including the repair of deteriorated outer walls, repainting rooms with volunteers, and routine groundskeeping, important work of which would be difficult for the home to allocate time and resources to otherwise. Through such efforts, Habitat Japan’s work resonated with the Bott Home and its director, Mr. Miyamoto, who long desired to “create a craft room that nurtures children’s creativity and independence”. This led Habitat Japan to partner with Fukuda Architects to design and build a craft room, embarking on our first architectural project since reconstruction efforts in Tohoku following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

To make the craft room a reality amidst rising costs, the team repeatedly revised plans based on the home’s requests in order to complete the project under budget while passing numerous administrative checks and barrier-free ordinances. After nearly five years of planning and fundraising, construction on the project finally began in March of 2025.

In just four months, the craft room has been completed as of July 2025. Following a vote amongst facility inhabitants, this new creative space was named “Craft Room Noah”, suggested by a staff member who, observing the structure being built, likened it to Noah’s Ark.

More than just a building, Craft Room Noah is a symbolic space brought to life by children’s imagination and active involvement. On Saturday, September 6th, 2025, Habitat Japan will host an unveiling ceremony for the craft room, inviting facility staff, corporate supporters, individual donors, and the architects and contractors, and celebrate the completion of the space with those who helped make it a reality.

Actualizing the Project with the Help of Corporate and Individual Supporters

The craft room was made a reality with the generous support of many corporate partners, including M&G Investments Japan, Saint-Gobain K.K., and S.C. Johnson, as well as many individual donors.

As part of our mission to bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope, Habitat Japan is proud to have corporate supporters who not only donate to our Facility Improvement Program but also made direct contributions to facilities as volunteers. In fiscal year 2025 (July 2024~June 2025), Habitat Japan welcomed 233 volunteers whose work contributed directly to the improvement of safe and decent spaces children can call home. Corporate, organizational, and individual partners are invaluable stakeholders in addressing the housing needs of welfare facilities like children’s homes. The Craft Room project is a symbolic initiative given shape by these collective efforts and shared mission, supporting the future of the children living at the Bott Home.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported this project. For more information on how to support the Facility Improvement Program, please visit the link below.