Looking Inward
-
A handful of modernist classics—an Eames Lounge, a Bubble Lamp by George Nelson, and a shell armchair from Modernica—kit out the living room and kitchen.
Photo by: Jessica Haye and Clark Hsiao -
From the kitchen and living room you’re well connected to the courtyard and the rest of the house. The trim and accents are white oak; the kitchen is by Leicht.
Photo by: Jessica Haye and Clark Hsiao -
Paul and Shoko stand on the ipe deck with their dog, Mei. “At first, we really wanted an Eichler, but it just did not work out. But after seeing a few we knew we had to have a courtyard home,” says Paul.
Photo by: Jessica Haye and Clark Hsiao -
The unadorned street-facing facade of the house belies the light, open, tranquil space inside.
Photo by: Jessica Haye and Clark Hsiao -
Organization is critical in keeping the Tatami House’s minimalist vibe intact. Shoko keeps the kitchen drawers tidy.
Photo by: Jessica Haye and Clark Hsiao -
-
The couple's collection of books, pottery, and carvings are displayed on built-in shelves in the office and hallways.
Photo by: Jessica Haye and Clark Hsiao -
“We’re taking a ‘slow-life’ approach to decorating, putting things up at an easy pace and not stressing about having to fill a wall just because it’s blank," says Paul.
Photo by: Jessica Haye and Clark Hsiao -
Alex the Great
The custom white-oak desk that Kurath designed for the office ably houses both Paul’s and Shoko’s computers with support from a decidedly off-the-shelf source: Ikea. Paul replaced the casters on two Alex drawer units with short legs from an Ikea kitchen system. Tucked beneath the desktop, the standalone storage divides the desk into work stations, houses office supplies, and shows how high design plays well with a bit of DIY ingenuity.
Photo by: Jessica Haye and Clark Hsiao -
Hide Your Food Away
The aesthetic throughout the house is supremely uncluttered, and that goes double for the kitchen, which dominates the central public space. “My wife is the master organizer,” says Paul. “In Japan space is so tight, I think it is in their DNA.” The kitchen and wall-storage system by the German company Leicht continues the muted design palette and conceals it all from the microwave to the dishes.
Photo by: Jessica Haye and Clark Hsiao -
Easy Breezy
A deft cross-ventilation system keeps things cool in the summer. A series of tilt-turn low-E wood window-doors by Swiss manufacturer Gautschi not only allows passage to the side yard and a bit of extra natural light but, when tilted down, permits breezes to pass through the house.
Photo by: Jessica Haye and Clark Hsiao -
Life Panel
Because the Japanese maple in the courtyard had to be planted before the ipe deck was laid, Kurath designed a small removable panel to allow access to the tree’s base. The Shozis can pull up the bit of decking to tend to the tree and replace it when they’re through. And because the boards line up perfectly, only the gardener need know it’s there.
Photo by: Jessica Haye and Clark Hsiao -
In the Doghouse
Paul and Shoko's dog, Mei, has lucked into a small prefab home of her own. Making use of a water jet cutter at his office, and using Adobe Illustrator as his design tool, Paul fashioned a series of panels that slot together without any nails or screws.
Photo by: Jessica Haye and Clark Hsiao -
The door to the house is actually on the side of the house, further adding to the sense of privacy the Shozis sought.
Photo by: Jessica Haye and Clark Hsiao -
The pair of desks that Paul and Shoko work at in the office space look directly onto the courtyard. The concept for the design was to be able to see the sky from your seat at the desk.
Photo by: Jessica Haye and Clark Hsiao -
The pattern on the sheets (from Macy's house line) are one of the few breaks from the master bedroom's strong minimalism.
Photo by: Jessica Haye and Clark Hsiao -
Though loads of natural light comes in from the courtyard, these large skylights also afford a view of the sky. The coffee table is from Modernica and the Eames Lounge is from Herman Miller.
Photo by: Jessica Haye and Clark Hsiao -
The Japanese maple gives the courtyard its peaceful character.
Photo by: Jessica Haye and Clark Hsiao -
Here you can really see the tilt-up concrete panels that Kurath designed for the space. Each was made to be small enough to go up with a forklift.
Don't miss a word of Dwell! Download our FREE app from iTunes, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!
Photo by: Jessica Haye and Clark Hsiao
More
Roger Kurath on Prefab
We get a nice double dose of architect Roger Kurath, principal of Design*21, this year at Dwell on Design.
The Most Popular Homes in Dwell: 41-60
We published and you read. Here's part three of our series on the most popular homes ever featured in Dwell. Find 1-20 here and 21-40 here.
The Dogs of Dwell
Is the modernist's perfect companion a fluffy pooch?
The Year in Review: Dwell's Top 12 Homes of 2012
2012 is coming to a close, and to celebrate a year in modern architecture, we've collected our 12 favorite stories, one for each month. Click through for a dose of design inspiration.
Add comment