They Brought a Touch of Japan to Their Lakeside Renovation
Partner Story
When Seattle resident Jeremy Lewis got an enthusiastic call from his wife with a hot lead on a property for their family of five, she immediately caught his attention. The only catch: the house needed work. "My wife called me to say, ‘I found a good home for us, it’s a project for sure, but it has incredible bones and potential on a really cool lot,’" he recalls. "She was right!"
The "really cool lot" that Jeremy’s wife was describing was on the western shore of Lake Washington, with 270-degree views stretching clear across the lake and to the Cascade Mountains beyond. The existing home was a midcentury charmer that had been designed and built for the current (and only) residents. Despite the incredible bones and architectural appeal, the home was in disrepair when the Lewises purchased it from the original owners.
The use of Nakamoto Forestry’s shou sugi ban siding over brick is a nod to the home’s original facade, while evoking the materiality of Japanese architecture.
Tapping Seattle-based SHED Architecture and Design, the couple expressed a clear directive—celebrate the original structure, while making it work for their family of five. "Although it had good bones, the original house was not in good shape," says SHED design principal Prentis Hale. "We honored the house first and foremost by not tearing it down."
A sleek slatted screen matches the proportions of the wall of glass blocks it replaced.
Beyond the striking facade, the interior stair was preserved in place. The original radiused walls and curved brass stair railing were period elements the homeowners were eager to keep intact during the renovation.
Yakisugi—commonly known as shou sugi ban in the West—graces the home’s exterior. "We focused our efforts on creating direct and elemental relationships between the materials," says SHED design principal Prentis Hale. "Yakisugi shou sugi ban siding in contrast with white bricks, shou sugi ban in relation to concrete, shou sugi ban and black steel."
Part of the home’s renovation included adding several new decks facing the lake, highlighting water views and encouraging seamless outdoor living.
In turn, the home was completely overhauled from top to bottom, while preserving the scale and proportion of the original midcentury dwelling. "Although the house is new inside and out, the structure is essentially the same," says Hale. Since the home’s original upper floor happened to be set up well for the family of five, the SHED team focused their efforts on the lower level. "We radically altered the main floor in plan and in structure," he says. Removing all interior walls, this lower level reorganization prioritized an open floor plan for the family, along with improved views and connectivity to the lake and landscape. Additionally, a detached cabin, which replaced the original carport and shed, serves as a multipurpose office/bedroom space and storage area.
The home’s smaller cabin—the "boathouse" seen at right—is a flex space with office/bedroom, kitchenette, wine cellar, watercraft storage, and outdoor shower. The structure borrows its form from the idea of an upturned boat, and a descending "canyon walkway" connects the cabin with the main house.
The home’s exterior takes cues from both the original midcentury design as well as traditional Japanese architecture—an interest of the clients that had grown during their travels to Japan. "The choice of white brick was inspired by pictures of traditional Japanese buildings combining white plaster walls and weathered shou sugi ban siding taken by the client on a trip to Japan," shares Hale. "The use of wood siding over brick—in our case, shou sugi ban over white bricks—honored the design of the original facade," he explains.
The original home was clad in brick siding on the main floor walls, prompting Hale and team to incorporate brick in their redesign as an homage to the original dwelling. The color choice of the new masonry "was primarily aesthetic, to create strong contrast for the shou sugi ban siding set above the white brick walls," says Hale.
The choice of shou sugi ban—with its saturated color and distinctive char—was an idea proposed by the homeowners. "During our travels in Japan we were struck by the simple elegance of shou sugi ban," says Jeremy. Digging deeper, they soon discovered its strength and durability, giving them confidence it could hold up in the extreme weather conditions typical in their coastal Washington climate.
The lakeside Washington residence was the first project Hale and the SHED team used shou sugi ban on. "We were somewhat doubtful about how different it would be from black stained cedar," he recalls. "From the moment the shou sugi ban was installed, it was evident that the siding was very different in appearance and effect."
Upon install, the visual effect of the shou sugi ban could be fully appreciated. "Its black and charcoal texture was much richer than black stained cedar, and was both matte and silvery under various lighting conditions," says Hale. "Its charred surface also lends a softness to the form of the building."
The desire to use shou sugi ban on the home’s exterior was welcomed with open arms by the SHED team, and they soon turned to Nakamoto Forestry to redesign the midcentury home’s all-important facade. Nakamoto Forestry—who has managed their own forests in Hiroshima since the 1920s—is the largest siding mill in Japan, and the only company supplying North America and Europe with authentically milled, heat-treated shou sugi ban. "We believe Nakamoto Forestry produces the highest quality shou sugi ban available in North America," says Hale. "The fact that their product comes from Japan–the source–is appealing to clients as is their PEFC certification."
"As seasons change we experience the main house and cabin differently," says Jeremy. "A simple walk to the fire pit or hot tub or wine cave seems to offer up new perspectives."
The rich color and signature texture of the shou sugi ban siding also beautifully served the design intent set forth by the homeowners and SHED team. "While the house is not a traditional Japanese house, we felt the material palette could imbue the house with a sense of materiality evocative of Japanese architecture," explains Hale. This meant opting for a restrained palette at the exterior—wood, brick, metal, and glass—all which would weather differently, but harmoniously, over time. Embracing contrast, the white bricks and black siding give the structure strength and elegance, while the opposing colors also deliberately contrast with the landscape.
Completed after two years of construction, the home and its lakeside Japanese garden sit in harmony with the scenic Washington surroundings. "We wanted our landscape to reflect the canyons and boulder fields and pine meadows often found in the nearby mountain ranges," says Jeremy.
Reflecting on the home’s form and materiality, Hale is eager to see how it continues to evolve within the landscape. "The shou sugi ban siding and white brick give both house and cabin a strong but sympathetic presence in the landscape," he says. The siding, Hale adds, will weather and patina over time, while the surrounding vegetation has already begun to grow onto the house. "I enjoy how the house asserts itself, but also gives way to the landscape," Hale says. "We look forward to visiting to see how it is changing over time—that it is becoming more beautiful with age."
Learn more at nakamotoforestry.com.
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