Bonsai House was conceived as a gallery for a collection of miniature trees
Bonsai House by Matthew Royce Architecture is a residential extension in Venice, California, conceived as a viewing gallery for the owners' collection of miniature trees

Bonsai House in Venice, California, is a residential extension with a twist. The project, fairly modest in size, is a straightforward ADU (the country's Accessory Dwelling Units typology) but also a minimalist architecture viewing gallery, created to house the private owner's world-class collection of miniature Bonsai trees. The design was conceived by local architect Matthew Royce and focuses on vistas – towards both the collection and an existing, mature pepper tree on site – and openness, emphasising contemporary living and a low, light, pavilion-inspired approach.
Bonsai House by Matthew Royce Architecture
'With the owner’s love of bonsai and respect for nature, space and structure gently rest and blur into the gardens,' says Royce, who has previously completed works such as his own residence, Oxford Triangle, in the neighbourhood. 'The entry transports you into a hallway naturally lit from sawtooth skylights above. As you move through the space, sunlight and massive concrete frames highlight specific trees and views, creating a gallery-like experience in this indoor/outdoor home.'
Beyond its visual connection to nature, including Bonsai and pepper trees, the project also features strong sustainable architecture credentials. A series of solar electric panels support energy needs, while a high capacity 7,200 gallon stormwater collection tank tackles water requirements. The latter was a key concern throughout the project's development, relating to the upkeep of the plants on site during the long periods of drought that hit the region. It was resolved by the large-scale tank, which was installed under the plot's central green lawn area.
Beyond its carefully planned green areas and their connection to the interiors, the scheme spans across a side and rear extension to the existing structure, as well as a new pavilion building at the back of the garden. The new areas contain three new bedrooms, two spacious living rooms, and a garage - all carefully crafted by Dan Cooney Construction.
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).
-
Wael Shawky explores a theatrical moment in history in Edinburgh
Pull strings to get there if you can, as the Egyptian artist presents the third film in his ‘The Crusades Cabaret’ trilogy, at Talbot Rice Gallery
-
We bring you all the best bits from this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed
As car makers switch their allegiance to the sunny West Sussex countryside as a place to showcase their wares, a new generation of sports cars were sent running up that famous hill
-
Stay at Patina Osaka for a dose of ‘transformative luxury’ in western Japan
From nature-inspired interiors to sound-tracked cocktails and an unusually green setting, Patina Osaka is a contemporary urban escape that sets itself apart
-
Florencia Rodriguez on the importance of curiosity, criticism and cultural freedom
Florencia Rodriguez, architect, writer and artistic director of this year’s Chicago Architecture Biennial, comments on the state of the States
-
A 432 Park Avenue apartment is an art-filled family home among the clouds
At 432 Park Avenue, inside and outside compete for starring roles; welcome to a skyscraping, art-filled apartment in Midtown Manhattan
-
Discover this sleek-but-warm sanctuary in the heart of the Wyoming wilds
This glorious wood-and-stone residence never misses a chance to show off the stirring landscape it calls home
-
Inside a Montana house, putting the American West's landscape at its heart
A holiday house in the Montana mountains, designed by Walker Warner Architects and Gachot Studios, scales new heights to create a fresh perspective on communing with the natural landscape
-
Peel back this Michigan lakeside house’s cool slate exterior to reveal a warm wooden home
In Detroit, Michigan, this lakeside house, a Y-shaped home by Disbrow Iannuzzi Architects, creates a soft balance between darkness and light through its minimalist materiality
-
Inside the new theatre at Jacob’s Pillow and its ‘magic box’, part of a pioneering complex designed for dance
Jacob’s Pillow welcomes the reborn Doris Duke Theatre by Mecanoo, a new space that has just opened in the beloved Berkshires cultural hub for the summer season
-
A Rancho Mirage home is in tune with its location and its architect-owners’ passions
Architect Steven Harris and his collaborator and husband, designer Lucien Rees Roberts, have built a home in Rancho Mirage, surrounded by some of America’s most iconic midcentury modern works; they invited us on a tour
-
Inside a midcentury modern house so good, its architect didn’t want to mess with it
‘I was immediately a little bit frightened, because it was such a great house,’ says architect Casper Mork-Ulnes of Roger Lee-designed gem in Berkeley, California