OWIU Design's co-founders Amanda Gunawan and Joel Wong have transformed a neglected 1970s modernist home in La Cañada Flintridge into a stunning 3,728-square-foot residence that serves as both their personal sanctuary and a living showcase of their distinctive Asian-American design philosophy. The Glass Ridge House, completed in 2024, represents a remarkable fusion of Eastern and Western design elements, creating what the architects describe as a visual language that bridges multicultural influences while respecting local context.
The couple, who have become prominent figures in the Los Angeles design community through their firms OWIU Design and OWIU Goods, discovered the property by chance and felt an immediate spiritual connection to it. Originally designed in 1973 by Ray Kappe, the founder of their alma mater Sci-ARC, the house had fallen into severe neglect over three decades. Despite its deteriorated condition, Gunawan and Wong were struck by the harmonious relationship that had developed between the modernist architecture and the surrounding landscape over time.
Both architects were raised in Singapore and moved fluidly throughout Asia before studying together at Sci-ARC, creating a unique perspective that balances diverse Asian influences with a California education. Their portfolio includes notable projects such as Baroo and Sua Superette, along with numerous residential projects for Asian-American tastemakers, helping to define the aesthetic of Asian-American small businesses throughout Los Angeles.
The renovation focused heavily on the relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces, a design principle that bridges both Eastern and Western architectural traditions. Moving water became a constant feature throughout the home, with the sunroom transformed into a built-in stream enclosed in glass to create continuity between residential and natural environments. A koi pond now wraps around the home's entryway, punctuated by a minimalist Japanese rock garden and meditative stepping stones.
The architects completely reimagined the curved pool to create seamless integration with the landscape, allowing residents to view the tree-lined hills while enjoying the water. From every window in the house, occupants can overlook water, trees, or hills, making the existing natural elements as fundamental to the design as any architectural feature.
One of the most distinctive aspects of the renovation involved incorporating traditional Japanese tatami mats in unexpected modern applications. Working with their friends at Kuboki Tatami, a family-owned specialist operating from Fukushima Prefecture since 1740, the couple integrated tatami into various design elements throughout the home. The sunken pit living room is lined with tatami, naturally adding warmth to the space while providing additional seating that accommodates Asian cultural practices of floor sitting for casual socializing.
The master bedroom features a custom bed frame lined with specially treated black tatami, adding subtle texture and drama to the otherwise minimalist space. This innovative use of traditional materials demonstrates the architects' commitment to representing traditional crafts in contemporary applications.
Recognizing the importance of tea in their daily rituals, Gunawan and Wong created a dedicated tea bar that is both spatially and tonally distinct from the main kitchen. The bar is framed by textured marble stone and features custom ceramic tiles created by their friend Hashimoto Tomonari, a Japanese ceramic artist working in Shigaraki. These tiles echo Tomonari's larger works, utilizing natural materials like rice and millet to create a unique iridescent marbled glaze that serves as the centerpiece of the space.
The kitchen and dining areas showcase OWIU's signature approach to functional design, with custom-built fixtures created by their construction company, Inflexion Builds. The countertops in both spaces are designed for communal dining and active kitchen work, reflecting the couple's emphasis on creating spaces for gathering and entertaining.
The kitchen features high ceilings with expansive glass windows that maximize natural light and highlight the light wood paneling, while the adjacent dining room creates emotional transition through color and spatial compression. The dining room features a dropped dark redwood paneled ceiling and blackened wood bar that establish a heavier, more intimate tone in contrast to the bright, airy kitchen.
Throughout the home, decorative elements tell the story of the couple's travels and relationships, creating what they describe as an inherent lived-in warmth despite the home's recent construction. Every detail sparks a memory or represents a meaningful connection, from travel finds and gifts from friends to special artisan pieces. A large vertical abstract painting hanging prominently in the living room was created by the owner of a frame shop in Koreatown that Gunawan regularly visits, exemplifying their commitment to supporting local artists and craftspeople.
The overall design philosophy draws significant inspiration from Japanese ryokans, traditional inns that serve as places of quiet retreat. Rather than copying structural elements, OWIU embraced the emotional sentiment of these spaces – the clear division between the outside world and the protected interior sanctuary. This concept aligns with their belief that homes should serve as sanctuaries, providing safe meditative spaces within urban environments.
Hidden in the hills of Los Angeles yet remaining just minutes from downtown, the Glass Ridge House perfectly embodies this sanctuary concept. The renovation represents what the architects describe as the "sweet spot" of their design philosophy – the marriage of existing legacy with thoughtful intervention, where their reimagining of the space serves as both a prayer to the existing nature and architectural heritage, while being dressed in their personal experiences and design principles that have shaped their distinctive visual language.
