https://www.architecturalrecord.com/rss/1947 en-us A family in Mill Valley, California had Japanese firm Koji Tsutsui & Associates design a structure that would function as both an office and a home so the family could spend more time together.

]]> 1311-mill-valley-house-koji-tsutsui-and-associates.asp Fri, 15 Nov 2013 23:30:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/8439-mill-valley-house Mill Valley House Mill Valley HouseKoji Tsutsui & AssociatesMill Valley, CaliforniaPhoto © Iwan Baan Mill Valley House Mill Valley HouseKoji Tsutsui & AssociatesMill Valley, CaliforniaPhoto © Iwan Baan Mill Valley House Mill Valley HouseKoji Tsutsui & AssociatesMill Valley, CaliforniaPhoto © Iwan Baan Mill Valley House Mill Valley HouseKoji Tsutsui & AssociatesMill Valley, CaliforniaPhoto © Iwan Baan Mill Valley House Mill Valley HouseKoji Tsutsui & AssociatesMill Valley, CaliforniaPhoto © Iwan Baan Mill Valley House Mill Valley HouseKoji Tsutsui & AssociatesMill Valley, CaliforniaImage courtesy Koji Tsutsui & Associates Mill Valley House Mill Valley HouseKoji Tsutsui & AssociatesMill Valley, CaliforniaImage courtesy Koji Tsutsui & Associates Mill Valley House Mill Valley HouseKoji Tsutsui & AssociatesMill Valley, CaliforniaImage courtesy Koji Tsutsui & Associates Mill Valley House Mill Valley HouseKoji Tsutsui & AssociatesMill Valley, CaliforniaImage courtesy Koji Tsutsui & Associates Mill Valley House Mill Valley HouseKoji Tsutsui & AssociatesMill Valley, CaliforniaImage courtesy Koji Tsutsui & Associates Mill Valley House Mill Valley HouseKoji Tsutsui & AssociatesMill Valley, CaliforniaImage courtesy Koji Tsutsui & Associates A cluster of boxes united by irregular, interstitial space, InBetween House mimics the Japanese urban condition on an architectural scale.

]]> inbetween-house.asp Sat, 16 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/8795-inbetween-house InBetween House sits on a plateau on a steeply sloping site. Following Karuizawa tradition, stone pillars mark the property line. A gravel drive leads to the garage, and a covered terrace to the “front door” at the building’s rear.   The house’s north-end elevation consists of the sunroom’s glass window wall flanked by the wood-enclosed bedroom, right, and the bathroom, left. While a vertical window supplies the bedroom with fresh air, a horizontal glass strip frames a landscape view visible from the bathtub. Treated with a clear sealant, the siding is made of local karamatsu pine — the species of the trees surrounding the site. The wood’s natural color complies with Karuizawa’s building code calling for a muted, neutral exterior. Doubling as an outdoor entertainment space, the entrance terrace is equipped with a built-in wood-burning stove for barbecues. Soaring, 15-foot-high glass panels frame the front door, opening the indoor living area to the activity on the protected patio outside. A combined dining room and kitchen adjoins the living room. A wood-burning stove is given prominence before the vast picture window and warms the living room on cold days. A 35-inch-deep, restaurant-grade stainless steel counter defines the kitchen. To preserve sight lines and spatial flow, two low refrigerators and all the cabinets are installed below the counter.   Designated for guests or visiting parents, the tatami mat room is the house’s only second-floor space, where an expansive window admits fresh air and daylight. An additional small, square internal aperture overlooks the living room, further facilitating natural ventilation. Located within the two-story box containing guest quarters, tile-clad stairs lead up to the second floor from the sun hall. Wherever possible, Tsutsui provided built-in closets and shelves so his clients would not need to add them later.   Capped by a slanted plywood ceiling and a web of 17-inch-deep exposed beams, the sunroom is a restful retreat slotted between the master bedroom, left, and the bathroom, right. Intended for quiet contemplation, it faces the densely forested landscape. The timber roof structure is the house’s most complex feature.  The contractor started its construction by covering the five boxes and then trimming beams and joists to fit in between and cover the infill spaces. Image courtesy Koji Tsutsui Architect & Associates Image courtesy Koji Tsutsui Architect & Associates Image courtesy Koji Tsutsui Architect & Associates