In 1378, Yoshimitsu ASHIKAGA, the third Shogun, started to build a new residence for the Ashikaga family on grounds stretching over a space of 110 meters from east to west and 220 meters from north to south, which included both sites of the Emperor Suko's gosho on Kitakoji-dori Muromachi-dori Street and of Kinnao IMADEGAWA's Kikutei, which had burned down.
3代将軍となった足利義満は1378年（天授4年/永和4年）に北小路通室町通の崇光天皇の御所跡と今出川公直の邸宅である菊亭の焼失跡地を併せた敷地（東西1町、南北2町）に足利家の邸宅の造営をはじめた。