Zen Retreat Project

The Zen Retreat project was designed around the concept of being a sanctuary where my client, an elderly Japanese woman named Lila Takahashi can be herself effortlessly despite being partially paralyzed from a stroke. The home had to accommodate her physical needs as well as cultural needs. The space integrates thoughtfully researched and authentic elements such as a tea ceremony room, traditional Japanese aesthetics, a user-friendly layout, and features to make moving through the space easy despite the stroke. 7 fundamental principles of Japanese design were used to form the design, while research of stroke recovery informed the practical elements to fulfill the physical needs of the client.