Project Description
Site / Context: Located in the Lake Hollywood area of Los Angeles. The property is bounded by medium size residential lots built over the past 90 years. The removal of unstable soil positioned the house lower on the site eliminating costly caisson construction and abled this two-story house to be within the constructed zoning height limit. Surrounding mature trees, a quite low traffic neighborhood and a constant mountain elevation breeze gives this properties environment exceptional qualities for living. Client / Program: The 6,500 square foot residence is for a family of five. The client’s, doctors, requested a very private residence for family activities, social entertaining and educational gatherings. Healthy living through light, air and openness were deemed essential for the families living environment. Architecture: Internally oriented living spaces surround an outdoor courtyard establishing a center to the house and enabling the external elements of sun, wind, rain, and the sound of birds to occupy the main living environment. Reversal of the typical house typology of always viewing out, the center is open, under the sky and framed by the domestic program. Views extend the habitable space across and through the courtyard, focusing activities internally creating an environment conditioned to the owners sensibilities. The lower level entry court set below the street anticipates the quiet realm of the house within. The first floor public spaces give full access to the outdoors. Retractable sliding and pocketed glass panels open completely to the courtyard blurring the boundary between inside / out. Water reflection of the lap pool stimulates the courtyard atmosphere. The private second floor aligns with the courtyard tree canopy. Operable surrounding glass slides and pockets away, creating an open tree house condition enabling sun and sound to enter the interior environment. White poured-in-place concrete walls and flush clear glass provide continuity on the exterior. Privacy is provided by Internal curtains currently matching the opacity and color of the exterior concrete enclosure. These curtains can be modulated for differing color, texture and opacity conditions, like artwork on the façade, enabling a different open / closed experience as the passage of time occurs.