A modern twist on Japanese zen for Californian home

Inspired by a brief for a house with a formal Japanese Tea Room, Laidlaw Schultz Architects were excited by the idea and keen give it a modern, less formal twist. In the words of architect Craig Schultz, "The front courtyard, the primary entrance, was inspired by an abstract notion of water. The entry stepping stones are the walking pads across the “water” to the entry, mimicking the trellis above; while the landscape architect added “islands” of individual stones to reinforce this idea. A fire pit was then added to create a gathering point for guests when the courtyard shifts from simply being observed as a Zen gravel garden, to becoming an outdoor leisure area for conversation, harmonica, stargazing or outdoor movies when the grandchildren visit."

The real standout of this home is the fantastic combination of materials: a warm industrial vibe with coreten, timber and concrete for the exterior together with timber and stone features throughout the interiors. In Craig's words "For me this is really a conversation between contrasts, refined materials vs. textured materials, and manufactured materials vs. natural – always attempting to create a balance between warm and cool, views in and views out, and materials that will age contrasted against materials that are fixed in time."

[photography by John Ellis]