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Green Sebastian Mariscal Solar Home Uses Charcoaled Wood

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After discovering the traditional Japanese wood finishing technique of charcoaling wood I wrote about here, I went looking to see it used in modern building. I wasn’t disappointed.

Here is how the author of Pursuing Wabi himself put it to work in creating his new solar powered yet very traditional Japanese green home in San Diego, designed by Sebastian Mariscal.

The house is informed by the Japanese sensibility of simplicity.

Part of this living room in the 2,100 sq ft house can be partitioned off for a guest bedroom. Counting that as a room, when they sell, it could count as a 2 br/2 bth (and a solar topped office upstairs). Guests sleep on futons that can be brought out when they’re needed…no need for a bed wasting space.

Disappearing sliding doors make it part of the living area when there are no overnight guests.

Another traditional element was the avoidance of “motonai!” a Japanese term that connotes the “squandering of natural resources” like when something useful is wasted. It conveys “reduce consumption, reuse, recycle, and repair” all in a single word. That word is simply un-american.

“Instead of demolishing our house we decided to deconstruct it. With deconstruction, 85% of the house gets reused. It costs twice as much as a normal demolition, but it’s green”.

Everything from the old house was salvaged for the ReUse People; from roof tiles to outlet boxes.

He also wanted to retain what he considers (and I’m inclined to agree) one of the best aspects of Japanese design: the Engawa.

Common in traditional Japanese homes but now rare in Japan – the Engawa is a narrow space that serves as a transition space between the indoors and outdoors. 

It’s a place where you can sit, drink coffee, and vegetate while viewing the outdoors.

The master bedroom, overlooking the green roof, has solar panels to provide electricity to the whole house, yet the panels are hidden to cars passing by, with a small parapet.

He didn’t worry about the future, but had this very green home designed for his own tastes.

“The comment I typically get is “you won’t be able to sell that house”. Even in Southern California, a house with anything less than 3 bedrooms is immediately considered unsellable. I should worry about that but I’m not that smart.”

He needn’t worry. So many custom homes look and feel like no more individual than a tract home. Not this one.

Source: Pursuing Wabi