Duane House | OWIU Design | 2025 | 美国
In Los Angeles’ Silver Lake neighbourhood, an area swathed in mid-century gems, OWIU Design co-principals Joel Wong and Amanda Gunawan elevated an iconic 1962 home, inserting their minimalist, organic aesthetic.East Los Angeles is an architecture lover’s dream. For OWIU Design co-principals Joel Wong and Amanda Gunawan, their routine, a two-mile run around the Silver Lake Reservoir, meant passing by inspirational homes, including those by Richard Neutra, and dreaming about finding a mid-century home of their own. They soon found one on Zillow: an unusual, rent-stabilised, four-unit multi-family home perched on a hill and obscured from view. It was within walking distance of the water and came with a fascinating backstory.
They toured Unit D, which would become their personal home. Originally built in 1962 by architect Carl Maston, it was later owned and redesigned by Swiss architect Pierre de Meuron and then by his son, Jean, who ultimately sold them the property. They aimed to preserve the unit’s character and infuse their design narrative with intentional furnishings, natural materials and a 100-square-metre addition primed for wellness with a sauna and cold plunge.
Inspired by the Japanese ryokan, the home’s floor-to-ceiling windows, connection with nature and muted palette make it a spot to relax, making it feel farther from the city than it is. They renovated two other units as well, except one that still has a long-term tenant, updating the bathrooms, kitchen and flooring.
They were drawn in by its double-height ceilings and their unit’s two-bedroom, two-bathroom, 490-square-metre plan. They left the layout primarily untouched but leaned into the ornamental details over a one-year period.
Completed at the end of 2023, the addition is something of a hybrid between an extension and a sunroom. “We wanted it to be post and beam with glass, going back to the mid-century modern roots of exposed beams,” says Wong. It has an efficient framing system, and because they built it themselves, they could streamline everything from design and architecture through construction. The space is softened by Akari lanterns and a pair of Eames chairs, embodying the couple’s pursuit of calm and craftsmanship.
Having relocated from Koreatown to Silver Lake, the pair quickly embraced the neighbourhood’s creative rhythm and access to nature. Though they have since moved on to a larger home, they still own the property.
In the main dining area, a Dyrlund Lotus Flip Flap teak dining table anchors the room beneath Fredrick Ramond Riva Tri pendant lights. Custom shoji screens, fabricated by a Japanese artisan team in California, introduce rhythm and an intimate texture.
In the living room, a Ferm Living sofa faces a vintage Rumba coffee table designed by Giorgio Cattelan of Cattelan Italia, while an extra-large Akari pendant hovers above. A slatted timber wall defines volume, offering privacy for their mezzanine-level bedroom. They have a Frank Lloyd Wright lamp sitting on a Vince Skelly carved log table next to a vintage chaise, which showcases the home’s mix of eras and personalities that give it a thoughtful, highly curated feel. A secondary dining nook holds a Hay oval oak table and Formakami black and white pendants.
What began as a modest Silver Lake rental became an experiment in efficiency, craftsmanship and comfort, one that is fully aligned with their studio’s dedication to preservation and innovation. By treating the project as both a place for exploration and daily living, OWIU Design has built spaces that will be both enduring and timeless.
Architecture, interior design, styling and landscape design by OWIU Design. Build by Inflexion Builds.
- 项目文案：Lauren Jones
- 项目摄影：Justin Chung
- 转载自：The Local Project
- 图片@The Local Project
- 语言：英语
- 编辑：序赞网
- 阅读原文
|
|
