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Project Details:

Location: Palmero Drive, Mount Washington, Los Angeles, United States of America

Architect: OWIU / @owiudesign

Photographer: Justin Chung / @justinchung

From the Architect: “The redesign of this 8,400-square-foot home, originally built in 1955, leans toward the ryokan—a traditional Japanese inn.

“Subtlety and neutrality are core to our design approach. A home should be a retreat of calm, an ‘uncharged space’ that quiets the mind. The openness was intentional. To be able to demarcate a space without using walls is important to us. Thus, there are subtle steps between rooms, symbolic textural differences and plays on transparency that mimic separation without interrupting the lines of space.

“Upon entering, the eye is directed toward the substantial garden through floor-to-ceiling windows that offer a backdrop of palm trees and the distant Los Angeles skyline. Every surface, inside and out, is painted—from terra-cotta to beige—to reflect the landscape. The foyer is finished in Venetian plaster, bringing the delicate texture of the surrounding mountains into the home. We preserved any elements that could be used, including reclaimed wood.

“We also integrated glass bricks—a quintessentially midcentury-modern design element. Not only do they possess structural integrity, they also allow light to enter. We used them for a wall between the bathroom and the main living area to achieve privacy without obstructing flow, as well as the base of a bean-shaped kitchen counter that allows the fixture to seemingly float.

“Inspired by the tea ceremony rooms common to ryokans, we built an elevated deck from the primary bedroom, evoking a platform in a zen garden that reflects the change of space from room to garden, and that eases the home dweller into the natural space. We wanted the primary bedroom to be a space to escape to, one that promotes stillness and contemplation.

“We worked with friend and vintage furniture collector Jullie Nguyen from Ban Ban Studio to source vintage items, which include a 1980s modular sofa from Vladimir Kagan, three Isamu Noguchi lamps, George Nelson pendants, and a 1980s Bernard Vuarnesson Hexa coffee table for Bellato. They bring a distinctively modern yet practical touch to the home while remaining in harmony with the existing architecture and new design elements.”