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A Japanese-Inspired Renovation of a Modernist Icon (House Tour)
In Japanese Garden

A Japanese-Inspired Renovation of a Modernist Icon (House Tour)



A Japanese-inspired renovation breathes new life into a mid-century home through a seamless interplay of architecture, nature and cultural nuance. Located in north-east Los Angeles, Glass Ridge House is the transformation of a Ray Kappe-designed residence originally built in 1964. Vacant for more than two decades, the structure has been carefully reimagined by OWIU Design, a multidisciplinary design studio that approached the project with total authorship – guiding every detail from concept to execution. The result is a Japanese-inspired renovation that merges structure and spirit, old and new, into a singular vision of domestic stillness.

This is not simply a restoration – it is a reawakening. With deep respect for the home’s architectural lineage and the surrounding ecology, the design introduces a meditative quality of space. The layout is intuitive and flowing, grounded in balance and calm. Upon entry, a Japanese rock garden and reflective pond invite pause and presence. Timber-lined interiors, soft natural light and deliberate transitions define each space. A sunken lounge, shoji screens and a tea bar create moments for stillness and gathering – each reinforcing the home’s grounding in ritual and rhythm. As a Japanese-inspired renovation, it reflects an intentional lifestyle centred on harmony and sensory engagement.

The material palette is raw yet refined. Stone, marble and timber are used in quiet conversation with one another. Japanese chiri plaster and tambo travertine imbue the interiors with subtle texture, while hand-chiselled cobblestone introduces artisanal grounding underfoot. These surfaces reflect the natural world outside the home’s generous panes of glass, which frame curated vignettes of greenery and sky. Every window becomes an invitation to engage with the landscape.

The upper level houses private spaces: a master suite with a custom soaking tub, a peaceful library behind shoji screens, and two guestrooms. A dedicated sauna, built into the slope of the property, reinforces the ethos of wellness as a daily act. This is a home that does not simply accommodate life, it enhances it. In every detail, it exemplifies how a Japanese-inspired renovation can offer restoration not only to architecture but to those who inhabit it.

The surrounding landscape has been treated with the same care and composition as the architecture. Boulders were hand-selected from local quarries and placed like sculptures, creating a natural dialogue between structure and setting. Trees were introduced to frame views, shift with the seasons and provide a living counterpoint to the home’s refined geometry.
Glass Ridge House stands as a quiet manifesto for contemporary living. It speaks to an emerging language in design – one that favours restraint over excess, longevity over trend, and soulfulness over spectacle. As a Japanese-inspired renovation, it does not seek to replicate tradition but rather to internalise it, expressing its essence through a modern, deeply personal lens. The home becomes more than shelter – it becomes a vessel for clarity, connection and calm.

00:00 – Introduction to the Japanese-Inspired Renovation
01:19 – Briefing, Building and Designing Process
02:10 – Layout and Walkthrough of the Home
03:54 – Incorporating Japanese Influences
04:53 – Material Palette
05:37 – Landscaping Challenges
06:21 – Favourite Aspects and Proud Moments

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Photography by Pablo Veiga.
Architecture, interior design and landscape design by OWIU Design.
Build by Inflexion Builds.
Filmed and edited by O&Co. Homes.
Production by The Local Production.

Location: Los Angeles, California, United States

The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land in Australia. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our country and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.

#Japanese #Inspired #Renovation

We’re so lucky to have inherited such a 
beautiful garden in such fertile land. We just felt like it was our 
duty to carry on the ecosystem. My name is Joel, my name is Amanda and 
we are the founding principles of OWIU, which stands for Only Way Is Up Design. We are currently at the Glass Ridge 
House, where we are the owners, the builders and the architects of the home. The house is located in La Cañada Flintridge 
northeast of Los Angeles, California. The house was originally built in 1964. The original architect was Ray Kappe. Who also happened to be the founder of the 
architecture school we went to SCI-Arc. This house was basically sitting vacant for over 20 years when we first found it and it 
was like love at first sight for us. The beauty of being our own clients was 
that we already knew what we wanted, and this removed certain barriers for 
us to really execute the design and the vision properly, versus having to go to 
a client and asking them what they want, like we were asking ourselves 
what we wanted to create. This house was basically built in two phases, 
the first one was the restoration aspect of things where we had to get a house that 
was basically not lived in for 20 years. I would say about 30 more percent of 
the work happened when we moved in. We wanted to know how we would live in 
the space, that’s how we designed it. I think it was a really interesting relationship 
between clients and owners which is basically us. So the house is located at the end of the 
cul-de-sac that actually overlooks the lush greenery facing the ocean 
and the downtown LA skyline. As you enter into the house, you’re going to see a beautiful rock garden and on the 
right you have a Japanese Tsukubai. So as you step into the house all the public 
spaces are located on the first floor, we have the main entryway lobby space where it overlooks 
both the rock garden and the reflective pond. We have the sunken pit area, 
where it’s a very cozy space, where you step down you can lounge 
with Tatami Floors on the ground. We have our new kitchen which is 
under a double height volume space. We have a tea bar that was created 
with the intention of using this space as a modern tea ceremony gathering area. And then finally we have our dining room 
that is right next to the large glass box, this is like the main focal point of 
the home where the best views are. So as you climb up the stairs there are four 
rooms. One would be the main master bedroom and we have our master bathroom where we 
built in a large custom made soaking tub. As you walk down you’d see some Shoji 
Screens which is the entryway to our library, and finally we have the two other guest rooms. We spent a lot of time in Japan and I think 
that was where we got our biggest inspiration, I think we were just so impressed 
with the way that they were living. Most importantly we would spend a lot of 
time in the traditional Japanese houses called Ryokan. So these Ryokans 
are mainly used almost as an escape for people to rejuvenate and revitalise 
themselves from the busy city life. And we felt like why couldn’t this be an 
everyday thing, that’s why we have areas for wellness, such as the sauna that we 
have built by the site of the property. Also there is a beauty in having a tea ceremony, 
we wanted to be able to carry that out on a more casual basis because we like the significance of 
it, we like what it brings in terms of connection. We utilise plenty of marble and 
stone for all the countertops, we also use Tambo Travertine 
on the floors of the glass box. The walls are all mostly Japanese 
Shikkui Plaster and Venetian Plaster. On the outside we also use 
hand chiseled cobblestone. It was important for us to 
pick materials that were warm and that could not overshadow the 
nature but rather complement it. Definitely I would say one of the 
biggest challenges was the landscape, because there’s so much glass in the house 
and we wanted to make sure that every glass that a person views out of like 
they’re viewing some form of like art. So we started planting all these new 
trees, we also started placing all these beautiful boulders and rocks 
that we handpicked from quarries. It became a very personal experience of 
like acting as the artist placing things at the right positions for people to appreciate. So you can really see how much time 
and energy we’ve put into this. I always find new favorite spots in this house, but if I had to pick, it would be the 
sunken lounge because it’s very cozy, it’s very warm, and you still get enough natural 
light and you still get enough access to nature. We’re really proud of this 
project as it’s probably one of the most ambitious projects we’ve done to date. Our whole firm’s ethos is about thoughtful 
design and careful craftsmanship, so everything that we see in here that 
corresponds to that, we feel very proud of, and I think that we’ve managed to do 
that in almost all aspects of this house.

40 Comments

  4. @jrodriguez8216

    Of all of the homes and projects I have seen this is 100% my favorite, Japanese Modernist, I dreamt of this type of home. Unbelievable work. How can I get one done for me?

  6. @lazlo2511

    I’m not feeling that Japanese vibe, I would enjoy some true authoritarian on the matter. The interior is spawned with pieces, leading to confusion. A before and after wound of been nice since we are addressing two decades of space neglect. Hard to love it. I file this under, tried but back to the drawing board kids.

  11. @jflo2023

    Would have loved to have seen the before shots, so we can get an idea of what changes you made. The house is beautiful, but not a fan of the furnishings, some seating looks comfortable, some looks like 10 minute seating for those guests you don't want to hang around. It would have shown much better with clean windows, but I appreciate the work that goes into this type of project.

  16. @omstygomsty

    Thr project has its qualities. Unfortunately there is too much going on. Less is more. Remove the clutter.

  20. @Jokwoo

    Lovely house! But the interior design lets it down by placing one or two too many items throughout the spaces. For a Japanese design, there’s little understanding of beauty from simplicity.

  23. @mtnshelby7059

    Seems very peaceful to me, but it would be unfortunate if the neighborhood added outdoor noise to the garden experience.

  25. @sr760

    It is amazing what you did!
    So calming vibes,
    That
    basically reflect next:
    "in zen we don't find the answers,
    but we loose the questions "🙏

  32. @TheLocalProject

    We hope you enjoyed this Japanese-inspired renovation of Glass Ridge House. From its roots in 1960s Los Angeles modernism to its Japanese-inspired rebirth by OWIU Design, the home unfolds like a meditative retreat, embracing stillness, light and ritual. Continue your journey through the best in architecture and design by subscribing to The Local Project today: https://thelocalproject.com.au/subscribe/

  36. @mrvk39

    I like the mix of Japanese influences and mid-century modern. They somehow go together. I thought that landscaping was incredible and so were the views. I thought the architecture was great but interior design was just a tad too busy for my taste. Japanese use LESS things and it creates a calmer atmosphere. This was a bit too busy, though all individual items were beautiful, especially various Japanese baskets and bathroom details.

  40. @apolloventureful

    Another bland flat roofed modernist box. There's no pointing in having a flat roof if you're not even going to have a rooftop patio.

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