This Master Bathroom, Bedroom and Closet remodel was inspired with Asian fusion. Our client requested her space be a zen, peaceful retreat. This remodel Incorporated all the desired wished of our client down to the smallest detail. A nice soaking tub and walk shower was put into the bathroom along with an dark vanity and vessel sinks. The bedroom was painted with warm inviting paint and the closet had cabinets and shelving built in. This space is the epitome of zen. Scott Basile, Basile Photography

Our client, a professor of Japanese sociology at Harvard, owned a Deck House home with its post and beam construction and 1950’s modernist simplicity. She asked Feinmann to design a multi-purpose addition to meet several needs: a functional yet spacious home office, a beautiful entry way into the home, and a serene sitting area. The client mentioned she has always wanted a Japanese “scholar’s study,” which is traditionally a contemplative workspace area enclosed by shoji screens. We told her the Japanese minimalism she desired and the clean modernist aesthetic of her existing home could marry quite nicely (the blending of East and West) with some thoughtful interventions. The challenge then became finding a way to balance these styles. The house is surrounded by many trees, so bringing nature into the home was easily achieved through careful placement of windows throughout the addition. But the design element that brought it all together was the large translucent wall (kalwall) in the main hallway. This unique material allows for diffused natural light to envelop the living spaces. It has the same insulative properties as a typical exterior wall, and therefore is considered to be a great “green” building material. It is also quite versatile, and we were able to customize it to give our accent wall the Japanese feel of a shoji screen. We reiterated this design element with actual shoji screens to enclose the scholar’s study, which also doubles as a guest room. Post-and-beam construction was continued from the existing house through the new addition in order to preserve aesthetic continuity. Homeowner quote: "I wanted a certain feeling and the Feinmann architect really got it. I had already been through three different architects—one even said that the house was a tear down." Awards: • 2007 Gold Prism Award Renovation/Addition Best Remodeling/Restoration under $250K • 2007 Best of the Best Design Award Residential Addition for Best Project under $250K • 2007 Remodeling Design Merit Award Residential Addition $100 - $250K • 2007 Regional NARI Award Contractor of the Year: Residential Addition • 2006 Eastern Mass NARI Award Best Addition over $100K Photos by John Horner

This unique project has heavy Asian influences due to the owner’s strong connection to Indonesia, along with a Mountain West flare creating a unique and rustic contemporary composition. This mountain contemporary residence is tucked into a mature ponderosa forest in the beautiful high desert of Flagstaff, Arizona. The site was instrumental on the development of our form and structure in early design. The 60 to 100 foot towering ponderosas on the site heavily impacted the location and form of the structure. The Asian influence combined with the vertical forms of the existing ponderosa forest led to the Flagstaff House trending towards a horizontal theme.

The design of this remodel of a small two-level residence in Noe Valley reflects the owner’s passion for Japanese architecture. Having decided to completely gut the interior partitions, we devised a better arranged floor plan with traditional Japanese features, including a sunken floor pit for dining and a vocabulary of natural wood trim and casework. Vertical grain Douglas Fir takes the place of Hinoki wood traditionally used in Japan. Natural wood flooring, soft green granite and green glass backsplashes in the kitchen further develop the desired Zen aesthetic. A wall to wall window above the sunken bath/shower creates a connection to the outdoors. Privacy is provided through the use of switchable glass, which goes from opaque to clear with a flick of a switch. We used in-floor heating to eliminate the noise associated with forced-air systems.

Designed by Ar. Deepak Guggari

SandyN

Sebastian Zachariah

Aaron Leitz

An old wood box sits upon a metal plinth, framed between delicate wood and metal screens. A bittersweet treasure from Mark’s ancestors’ time in the internment camps of B.C. through the second world war, the box sits in a sacred place at the heart of the home.

撮影　冨田英治

Storage unit and linen cupboard built into alcove. Asian inspired lattice doors with subtle two tone colour palate. Adjustable shelves throughout. Size: 3.1m wide x 2.4m high x 0.6m deep Materials: Externals painted Dulux Vivid White, 30% gloss. Panels behind lattice painted Dulux Taupe White, 30% gloss.

A round cut-out in the wall lets air and light breathe through the hallway and kitchen, also surprising guests who expect to see their own reflection.

The house's stark beauty accented by the lush, green valley as a backdrop, made this project an exciting one for Spaces Designed. The focus was to keep the minimalistic approach of the house but make it warm, inviting with rich colors and textures. The steel and metal structure needed to be complimented with soft furnishings and warm tones.