For an architects own home, Mark Motonaga, homeowner and creative director at RIOS pulled together a range of design elements that makes his home feel safe yet joyous. Located in Los Angeles, Modern Bungalow was once an original single-family residence. From the start of the project, the architect envisioned a modern home that could fit the scale of the original structure while reimagining what a bungalow could be. By creating a jungle-like refuge in the back of the house, RIOS has established a juxtaposition to living in a city. To do this, the architect reversed the typical bungalow layout by putting the public spaces at the rear of the house and the private spaces to the front. Moreover, featured in the backyard is a pool, which is different to the traditional backyard pools often designed in the city. Built to feel like people were swimming in a pond, it is complemented with a jungle-inspired garden that grows right up to the edge.
At the beginning of the house tour, two large grey doors open up to a side courtyard referred to as the home’s foyer. This space allows for the opportunity to continue to the backyard or to follow the house into the main space of an architects own home. In the main section of the house, the kitchen, dining and living are combined in an open plan and windows frame views out to the rear of the jungle-inspired garden. Down the main corridor of the modern home is the primary bedroom and bathroom, while off to the side the house tour is the guest bed and bath. As he was both the owner and architect, there were certain challenges that Mark faced when it came to the design of his own house. However, he began to think of how he and his partner currently lived and how they wanted to live in the future. Through this process, refining and simplifying became the approach for creating an architects own home.
For the interior design and decor, the architect employed colours that offer a connection to the exterior garden and its changing shades throughout the day. With deep teal used in the main living space, the primary bedroom is given a unique peony pink decor. Moreover, the light within the primary bedroom renovation is yellow-based and helps to transform the atmosphere of the room. For the bathroom renovation, a selection of different tiles was employed, such as various blues in the guest bath and a Moroccan concrete tile in the primary. The design of an architects own home challenges how the bungalow house typology can be seen and experienced. The renovation encourages people to think about how the relationship of interior spaces can change the homeowners’ experience. With a simplicity in its overall design, Modern Bungalow is an architects own home that challenges the ideas of living within the Californian landscape.
00:00 – Introduction to the Architects Own Home
00:41 – The Original Vision
01:35 – A Walkthrough of the Home
02:22 – Designing Your Own Home
03:32 – Ideating the Backyard Landscape
04:12 – Proud Aspects
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Photography by Hunter Kerhart.
Architecture and landscape architecture by RIOS.
Interior design by Guy Clouse with RIOS.
Build by Ecostone Construction.
Structural engineering by Tuchscher Engineering Group.
Landscape contracting by Harold Jones Landscape.
Metalwork by Jim Kirkpatrick.
Filmed and edited by The Local Production.
Production by The Local Production.
Location: Los Angeles, California, North America
The Local Project acknowledges the traditional territories and homelands of the Indigenous peoples in the United States. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our respective countries and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
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