John's Ideas

All four of these first-floor rooms offer splendid views of the lake from expansive windows and a front veranda that runs 8⅞ by 55¾ feet (2.7 by 17 meters), nearly the entire length of the villa. The veranda is enclosed by sliding doors and shutters, but these slide back on warm days to allow a full embrace of the landscape. The effect of the view from within the building is extraordinary. The Japanese call this framing of nature shakkei, or borrowed scenery.

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Minimal transitions between indoors and out. Access to the outdoors — a concept aided by easily opened sliding doors and windows — is paramount in Japanese design. This indoor-outdoor aesthetic greatly influenced modernist architects in California and around the world. In this photo of the traditional teahouse at the Nezu Museum in Tokyo, only a narrow stone walkway under the eaves separates the house from the majestic and expansive garden.

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Reverence for wood. The wood in Japanese houses is often stained but never painted, since paint would cover the highly prized grain. Entire tree trunks may be used as roof beams, while the most expensive piece, often an unplaned length of Japanese cypress, is reserved for the tokonoma.

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apanese houses are sited north-south, with the main rooms facing south, to ensure steady sunlight throughout the day. Views — ideally of mountains or water but more often of a garden — are essential. Natural light is considered a human right in Japan for homeowners and apartment dwellers alike.

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