The transformation of the “Wagoya House” in Westchester, Los Angeles, presents a thoughtful re-interpretation of mid-century modernism, rooted in craft, materiality, and spatial generosity. Designed and built by Alloi Architecture + Construction, the home pays homage to its origins while opening a dialogue between nature, light, and structure.
At its heart, the house embraces natural materials. Vertical-grain Douglas fir appears in windows, doors, and a striking feature wall, the wood’s texture catching shifting daylight and casting subtle patterns of shadow that turn the interior into a living canvas. A steel-and-glass façade in the living room dissolves the threshold between inside and out, establishing a visual and physical connection to the garden and sky. The openness recalls the spirit of classic Eichler homes, where structure and light work in harmony.
The exterior frames the home in a rich palette of materials: a bold stone chimney rises against a steel standing-seam roof, while board-form concrete, corten-steel house numbers, and warm stucco bring grounding texture to the façade. Together these elements create a balanced composition that feels both rooted and refined.
Inside, the detailing is disciplined yet warm. In the bathroom, wall-to-wall grey tile meets minimalist fixtures and an integrated mirror, creating a calm, functional retreat. The primary bedroom continues the vertical-grain motif in cabinetry and touch-to-open hardware, while a warm-toned wood door opens to native landscaping, reinforcing the flow between interior and exterior.
The project began with a modest two-bedroom, one-bath 1940s home that had lost its coherence: mismatched roof planes, red brick, white vinyl siding, and leaky windows. The Alloi team approached the redesign holistically, considering every layer from façade to landscape. Guided by renderings that emphasised proportion, light, and texture, the design evolved into a cohesive whole.
Outdoors, the team introduced a composition of board-form concrete walls, a minimalist steel gate, and ambient bench lighting to form a quiet conversation lounge off the kitchen. This outdoor sanctuary binds landscape and architecture into a single, intimate experience, allowing the rhythm of daily life to flow between the two.
What makes the Wagoya House so compelling is its respectful reinterpretation of mid-century principles: transparency to nature, structural honesty, and enduring materials. Rather than preserve the past, the renovation re-imagines it for contemporary living where craftsmanship, daylight, and a deep connection to place remain central. The result is a home that feels timeless yet alive, a serene lesson in how thoughtful design can renew not just a building, but the experience of living within it.
