Eastern Influence
Kensington, California

By filling in the corner of this L-shaped building, we satisfied the client’s desire for a separate guest quarters and gracious entryway. The clients also requested that the design incorporate elements to reflect the wife’s Japanese cultural heritage.

Entrance into the existing house was awkward, via a narrow passageway. With the addition, we created a vaulted central spine that became a formal entry hall and circulation space for the entire house. The entry is split into two levels, with a lower area to sit and remove shoes. Guest bath and bedroom comprised the new wing, and the existing rooms across the entryway were reconfigured to create a more private master suite with a remodeled luxurious bath area. Materials were chosen, and motifs incorporated, to infuse the space with an Asian sensibility.