Home of the Week: Modern Torrance home finds balance between light and dark

This minimalist-modern home in Torrance strikes a balance between monochromatic hues with a completely white interior tucked within a shell of dark corrugated cement fiberboard.

Known as the Monokuro House, the subdued two-story was designed to evoke the light and dark contrast found in traditional Japanese architecture. Setback windows, operable skylights and thermal mass — the home’s ability to reduce indoor temperature swings by storing heat energy — feature prominently in the passive solar design.

The details

Location: 1411 Elm Ave., Torrance, 90503

Asking price: $1.699 million

Year built: 2015

Architect: W3 Architects

Living area: 2,550 square feet, three bedrooms, three bathrooms

Lot size: 7,501 square feet

Features: Corrugated cement-fiber siding; engineered White oak and polished concrete floors; open-concept kitchen and dining area; bonus room/office; pocketing walls of glass; wood decking; drought-tolerant landscaping; fire pit; passive solar system; cross ventilation; operable skylights

About the area: In the 90503 ZIP Code, based on 14 sales, the median price for single-family homes in March was $929,000, a 2.7% increase compared with the same month last year, according to CoreLogic.

Agents: Coleman Eisner and Benjamin Kahle; Deasy Penner Podley; (310) 275-1000

To submit a candidate for Home of the Week, send high-resolution color photos via Dropbox.com, permission from the photographer to publish the images and a description of the house to neal.leitereg@latimes.com.

neal.leitereg@latimes.com | Twitter: @LATHotProperty