Room of the Day: Japanese Bento Boxes Inspire Architect’s Studio
Unusual custom woodwork is a highlight of this glass-encased minimalist structure in a Southern California backyard
Architect CJ Paone is known for melding built spaces with the environment, drawing inspiration from the natural world. Paone drew from that philosophy when it came time to build a live-work studio on his own property in Ventura, California. Inspired by the minimalism and visual appeal of Japanese bento lunch boxes, Paone built the streamlined structure in an unused space on his home’s extra-long residential lot. The studio utilizes thoughtful design and unique construction techniques, and the simple furnishings inside are easily moved to make way for entertaining or housing guests. The architect now uses it as the studio for his architectural firm.
The studio sits at the rear of the lot, behind the main house and adjacent to the garage. (It’s labeled “addition” on the top left of the plan shown here.) It’s mostly hidden from the street and framed by mature trees.
Utilities had to be extended underground across the lot, and the space was sloped to allow for sewer drainage. Multiple sets of pipes were installed, including super-insulated hot-water piping that supplies the radiant-heat system.
Utilities had to be extended underground across the lot, and the space was sloped to allow for sewer drainage. Multiple sets of pipes were installed, including super-insulated hot-water piping that supplies the radiant-heat system.
The deck was constructed from western red cedar sealed with Penofin Marine Oil Finish. An avocado tree grows through the deck, and new beds with drought-tolerant plants were added. The porous hardscaping — including decomposed granite in the bocce court — allows water to permeate into the ground rather than run off.
Bistro table and chairs: Ikea
Bistro table and chairs: Ikea
Floor-to-ceiling glass at the entry brings the outside in. Laminated glass windows were oriented for passive cooling. Paone designed the overhang above the deck to control sun exposure.
The large steel-framed door, measuring 8 feet wide and 10 feet tall, pivots to open and close.
Paone experimented with construction techniques that he plans to incorporate into other projects, including a unique roof design seen at the top of this drawing of the studio. “The studio was detailed and constructed so that the roof structure could be exposed, be fully insulated, slope enough for drainage and still retain the strong horizontal lines of the eaves,” he says. To do that, he squeezed rigid foam insulation into a narrow band of framing and used special fasteners that allowed for “hangerless” roof joists that had no visible galvanized metal.
Steel beams support a sleeping loft under an open-beam ceiling. Radiant heating was installed into the polished concrete floors. He had a custom bookcase of pine and Douglas fir built into the wall.
Antique Moroccan rug: Badia Design
Antique Moroccan rug: Badia Design
The wet bar is topped with a brass counter and includes a large integrated sink. The backsplash is steel sheeting with a water-resistant finish.
A cabinet at the end of the wet bar was constructed using a finger-joint technique common in Japanese sake boxes. The wall light has an Edison-style LED bulb, vintage cage and ceramic lamp holder.
A custom-made ship’s ladder with alternating treads of western red cedar leads to the loft. A local artisan built the ladder.
Other artisans were used to pour and seal the concrete floor, build the bookcase and deck, forge and install the steel-framed windows and doors and install the bocce court and landscaping.
Read more stories about studio designs
Other artisans were used to pour and seal the concrete floor, build the bookcase and deck, forge and install the steel-framed windows and doors and install the bocce court and landscaping.
Read more stories about studio designs
Studio at a Glance
Who uses it: Architect CJ Paone of Archipelago Workshop
Location: Ventura, California
Size: 320 square feet (29.7 square meters); 23 by 16 feet (7 by 4.9 meters)
The property is in a neighborhood of 1940s and 1950s bungalows about a mile from Ventura’s world-class surfing spots. The studio’s outdoor space includes a deck and bocce ball court. A surfboard locker and outdoor shower are next to the door that leads to the adjacent garage.