Extraordinary Japanese-Inspired Duplex Inspired by Shou Sugi Ban

Northern Heights in Dallas, Texas is a surprising little neighborhood. It’s an area enveloped by a verdant landscape with one side home to a conservation district with charming bungalows and Tudors from the 1920s. However, when you cross Abbott Avenue, you enter a contemporary world of duplexes and townhomes backing up to the Katy Trail.

The homes in this little sanctuary of Northern Heights were designed by some of the most renowned architects in Texas including Frank Welch, Lionel Morrison, Max Levy, and, of course, Cliff Welch.

A Northern Heights Duplex With Japanese Sensibility
Welch designed this striking Northern Heights Asian-inspired duplex for a well-known photographer who has spent a great deal of time in Japan and has a keen affinity for its architecture.

“He approached us to design a speculative duplex across the street from his home to preserve the character of the neighborhood,” Welch said.

The narrow urban infill site provided some unique challenges, and Welch was tasked with making the most of it without feeling overdeveloped. There was also the challenge of designing for unknown buyers, ensuring spaces were adaptable and would work for any lifestyle.

We approached it as if we were building in Japan on a tight footprint,” Welch said. “We wanted the house to recede into the neighborhood and be site-appropriate and serene.”

Bringing Nature Indoors
Welch focused inward in the design of the 4,095-square-foot, three-level home. He used materials chosen for natural quality and durability, including Vertical Shou Sugi Ban Wood Siding, Corten Steel, Glass, and Paint Grip. Corten Screens, trellis, and shoji screens provide privacy and light control.

Welch even brought large boulders and stones and placed them in a gravel bed under the stairs. He designed to keep the Japanese sense of a one-to-one balance and a connection between the natural surroundings and the interior.

The result is a masterful fusion of Japanese design ethos and modern aesthetic into an urban sanctuary.