Inside the house, the intensely meticulous nature of the construction is revealed to quite the opposite effect. Instead of excessive demand and convolution, the mood is one of generosity, ease and serenity. Instead of brutalism and sensory deprivation, architecture provides sustenance and enrichment, both spiritual and intellectual. In an effort to leave the lily ungilded, Hadar equipped the rooms sparingly, deploying a variety of must-have classics by George Nakashima, Pierre Jeanneret and Jean Prouvé. (Interior designer Katherine Waronker consulted on the furnishings.) A guest house at the base of the property is outfitted like a Japanese tea room, with tatami mats, shoji screens, and a steam room with a traditional ofuro tub. The garden that separates the main house from the casita, designed by Double Green Landscapes, fuses Japanese and Californian influences with a variety of maple and ginkgo trees, giant wood bamboo, blackberry and leopard plants. “Walking through the garden to my little tea house, I feel like I’m escaping to Japan while I’m still in Hollywood,” Hadar reflects.
In addition to Ando and Iida, the owner is quick to share credit for the success of his construction venture with the many collaborators responsible for its final realization, including record architect Kazushige Shichishima of LA-based Bo.Shi Inc. Of course, he reserves his highest praise for the master himself. “I’m still discovering the house right now, sitting in different places and watching the light show that changes throughout the day. I appreciate every corner, every detail,” says Hadar. “I am very grateful to Ando. He is a beautiful human being.”
This article appears in AD’January issue Never miss a story when you subscribe A.D.
