
This Multicultural Approach to California Modernism Reinforces the Important Relationship Between Architecture and Environment
A pair of local architects merges African and Asian philosophies into an original design vision.
-
CategoryArchitecture, Design, Homes + Spaces, Makers + Entrepreneurs, Sustainability
Steven Ehrlich and Takashi Yanai of Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects are renowned for houses that extend the character of California modernism, focusing on transparency, dissolving the boundaries between inside and out and interpreting North African and Japanese architectural traditions.
Fifteen recent designs are showcased in Ehrlich Yanai: Outside-In (The Monacelli Press). The principal force behind the design is the site, whether a rugged hillside in the desert of Palm Springs, a lush landscape in the shadow of Mt. Tamalpais, or a constricted lot in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, or Venice Beach.
“Blurring the boundaries between the built and natural environment, our designs merge California modernism with vernacular design elements,” Ehrlich says, “Through details and materials, we maximize the home owner’s connection with the site and natural surroundings.”

Central to the architects’ design approach is what Ehrlich describes as “multicultural modernism,” a concept that has emerged from his own immersion in the vernacular buildings of North Africa and Yanai’s embrace of Japanese design principles. Those influences can be seen both in formal elements—courtyards, sculptural staircases, and expansive openings that encourage a seamless transition between inside and out—and in a limited palette of building materials that focuses on stone, wood, and glass.
This architecture of place, which livens and is livened by its surroundings, is evident throughout the work of Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects, recipient of the 2015 Firm Award from the American Institute of Architects. The practice now encompasses large-scale institutional and commercial projects, but each reflects the principles of the residential designs, which now span more than forty years.
For more on the tome, visit www.monacellipress.com.
The Band’s The Last Waltz Receives an Epic San Diego Homage
Two years after Mrs. Henry and a host of local bands paid tribute to the iconic album at the Belly Up Tavern, official recordings have finally been released.
Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove Reopens Following Fire Closure Last Month
Return of the giants.
Bay Area’s Blue Bottle Coffee Will Eliminate Paper and Plastic Cups in Some Cafés
It’s a first step toward zero waste by end of this year.