Japanese-Inspired Pavilion — 1,600 sq ft

Inspired by the Japanese concept of engawa — the transitional space between inside and outside — this pavilion home blurs boundaries between architecture and landscape. The plan is organized as two parallel bars connected by a glass-walled breezeway that serves as the entry and gallery. The public bar houses the kitchen, dining, and living room with a continuous wood ceiling that extends to the covered patio. The private bar contains three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Between the bars, a landscaped courtyard creates a private garden visible from every major room. Deep roof overhangs protect the glazing and provide shaded outdoor seating without added structure. Materiality is key: charred cedar (shou sugi ban) siding, exposed concrete foundation walls, natural stone stepping paths, and shoji-inspired sliding screens at the bedrooms. Flooring is polished concrete with radiant heat, transitioning to engineered hardwood in bedrooms. This plan has been built twice in the Willamette Valley, OR and once in Sonoma County, CA. Clients with established lots and a sensitivity to landscape integration will find this plan especially rewarding.