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9.3.21 | DIGS.NET 33 A R C H I T E C T U R E + D E S I G N R E S T O R E D | E YR C The couple were introduced to EYRC's work through a home the firm had designed for the parents of one of their childrens' friends. "They contacted me and we quickly built a rapport around our shared enthusiasm for food, art and travel, especially around Japan," Yanai remembers, "All these mutual interests had a direct and positive impact on the design." In additional, Yanai's personal background — born in Japan, he was raised in California — enabled him to nimbly fuse these two influences into a cohesive whole. He'd worked as a design journalist before becoming an architect; he brings this narrative approach to his design work. "These concepts particularly came through in this project in many ways, from the overall organization of the home to the details like a bench in the hallway." Creating a sense of privacy was important to the design's success. "The design is strategically planned to be two interlock- ing L-shapes, the house and the exterior" says Yanai. "Despite the tight site, this design helps maximize privacy and create additional living space." Feature walls and tall plantings also help shield the family from their neighbors as does orienting the home towards back and screening the street side of the home. In fact, despite the home's proximity to its neighbors, the overall experience is one of light and air and greenery and tranquility. Floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors completely open up the first floor, dissolving the boundaries between interior and exterior. EYRC looked to Lizz Speed Landscapes, who seam- lessly combined Japanese and California influences, for the garden's design. "Maximizing the connection to the yard was really important," Yanai, explains, "The grass literally comes up to the very edge of the house, softening this relationship and making it into an outdoor living room.' For the interiors, EYRC worked closely with Jodie Neve Design to select finishes and pieces that would reflect both the owners' taste and their wish for a place that was calm yet invit- ing. "The husband, in particular, expressed that he wanted to come home and be in a garden," says Yanai, "The spaces and interiors were consequently designed to always be focused or directed to views of the outside." This is underscored by several terraces, including a wooden deck with a wooden soaking tub off of the primary bathroom. The meditation spot is one of the home's most arresting features, slotting seamlessly into its overall impression of calm. Located at the top of the stairs, its roof open, framing a view of sky and trees, t's a quiet space for sitting, reading, yoga or meditation. "The mediation space is a very unique aspect of the home and further reinforces the contemplative Japanese and Scandinavian influences," says Yanai. "This space became an additional moment for reflection and peace and made creative use of a space that would typically be considered 'leftover' into something that is a beloved feature of the home." Yanai recalled one moment during the construction process when clients and architect were discussing the outdoor seating. "They wanted to have it close to the kitchen and immediately outside the living space; I felt it should be at the far corner of the yard to create a destination," Yanai says. He melodramatically thew open the sliding glass doors to the exterior, letting the embrace of landscape and space speak for itself. The gesture convinced them. "I think they are surprised at how much the outdoors and the views of the garden are integrated into their everyday lives."

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