Join renowned architect TAKASHI YANAI, principal at Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects, and esteemed design critic ZAHID SARDAR as they delve into the evocative Japanese concept of “Komorebi,” the artful interplay of light filtering through leaves, a motif that captures the serene essence of Japanese Modernism. Yanai will uncover the cultural and historical influences that shape his practice, highlighting how important elements of traditional Japanese design are reinterpreted in strikingly contemporary ways. This dialogue will spotlight Yanai’s award-winning work on a private residence in Palo Alto, demonstrating how the timeless beauty of ‘Komorebi’ finds expression in modern architecture.
This event is hosted in partnership with Design Within Reach Palo Alto.
ABOUT TAKASHI YANAI
Takashi Yanai is a Partner at Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects and has been Residential Studio Director since 2004. Takashi is also currently leading EYRC’s San Francisco Studio. Prior to practice, Takashi was a design journalist and editor at GA Houses in Tokyo where his work and travels provided the seeds for his design philosophy. Today his work is rooted in its contemplative relationship to landscape and is a continuation of the California Modernist ethos infused with reinterpretations of traditional Japanese elements. In 2017 he was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows in recognition of his residential work, which articulates how architecture can “connect man and nature through masterful siting and exceptional craft.” Takashi serves on the SFMOMA Photography Accessions as well as the Architecture+Design Accessions Committees and has also been appointed the Chair of the National AIA Committee on Design for 2021. His professional activities, travels and personal inspirations are well-documented and widely followed (57,000 followers) on his Instagram account @t_yanai. Takashi has a degree in Literature with distinction from the University of California at Berkeley and a Masters in Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design.
ABOUT ZAHID SARDAR
Zahid Sardar is a San Francisco-based editor, writer, and curator specializing in architecture, interiors, and design. He is currently working on launching a new Bay Area design publication. He has authored many design books, curated exhibitions, and was the San Francisco Chronicle‘s design editor for 20 years. His work appears in The New York Times and Dwell magazine and has been extensively featured in Interiors, Western Interiors & Design, Interior Design, House & Garden, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, and other national and international magazines. He has taught design history at the California College of the Arts and has written several other books, including “West Coast Modern”, “New Garden Design”, and “In & Out of Paris: Gardens of Secret Delights.”
ABOUT DESIGN WITHIN REACH PALO ALTO:
Located in the heart of Palo Alto’s vibrant downtown, the Studio welcomes you with its billowing Light Cloud, an eye-catching collection of dozens of pendant fixtures. DWR Palo Alto features 21 fully realized rooms – including living, dining and bedroom areas – which provide inspiration on the many ways to live with modern design. On the second floor are home-office vignettes with many top-selling task chairs ready for you to test-drive, along with collections for outdoor living. The Studio’s friendly, knowledgeable team also is on hand to provide a host of complimentary Design Services, including one-on-one consultations, in-home visits, 3-D renderings of your spaces and plenty of help measuring and dreaming.
Photo credit: Matthew Millman