In its simplest description, an engawa is an exterior walkway, typically constructed of wood, that surrounds the perimeter of the house. Beyond the physical, the engawa represents a filter between the interior and the exterior. It reinforces connection to nature. This was the vision the family had for their new home.

After dreaming of upgrading their house for years, the family, who set roots in the beautiful climate of Manhattan Beach, California decided to realize their dream. The existing footprint of the house was “L-Shaped” with a good size backyard but the interior space did not take advantage of this seemingly obvious connection. The family’s connection to a modern engawa, and their love for modern architecture, was the cruxto the concept of the house redesign.

A second story addition was designed for a true owners suite. Freeing up space on the ground floor allowed for a dedicated office and the ability to remove interior walls and create the heart of the home - a great room with high ceilings and an impressive connection to the rear yard.

The living room, dining room and kitchen converge as one space at the elbow of the house. The 14 foot tall ceiling is finished with slatted wood that bridges through the clerestory windows to the exterior eave. An interior corner glazing system slides away to connect the inside of the home to the modern engawa onthe outside. The large glass doors pocket and stack out of site, allowing a seamless connection to the outside - embracing nature. The wood deck / engawa is the outdoor entertaining area. A thin portion of it extends along the length of the house to connect to the new office paying homage to the traditional engawa.