Laurel Hills Residence

Composed of three pavilions connected by a series of glasshallways, the single-story residence seeks to create a residential oasis in theheart of Los Angeles. The Western Red Cedar lined guest house/garage pavilionestablishes a datum line that carves and connects the two larger volumes of theliving and sleeping pavilions, comprised of oversizedcharcoal-colored board, batten extira and cement board siding. A deepoverhang mitigates solar heat gain and shields from the sun exposure. A walkway of concrete pavers, lined by wild grasses leads to thefront door, passing a tranquil courtyard with olive trees. The entry to thehouse is located within a glass hallway connecting the living pavilion to thewest and the sleeping pavilion to the east, establishing a sense of intimatescale before engaging with the other parts of the house. The fluidity between the kitchen, breakfast room and family room,designed for uninterrupted entertainment, creates a harmony of transparency andlightness. A glass hallway connecting the guest pavilion to the living areamakes metaphorical reference to geological history, spanning bridge-like acrossan old creek that once ran through the property. Unlike many iconic Los Angeles homes that orient themselves aroundpanoramic city views, the Laurel Hills Residence is in the foothills of thefamed Laurel Canyon, where the property offers a secluded and inwardly focusedexperience with a majestic backdrop of lush and mature trees. The entire site here is treated as we are accustomed to treatinginteriors. The surrounding trees and hills are taken to be the buildingenvelope and the exterior walls of the house are reconceived as a series ofpartition walls. Instead of only externalizing interior spaces, exterior spacesare also internalized. The grounds are interlocked with the interior space andthe entire ensemble is activated by the purposeful arrangement of deeplylayered sight lines, vignettes and circulation connections. Large windows,skylights, and pocketing doors infuse the home with natural light, reflectingoff wooden floors and marble countertops. Outside,the 40-foot-long pool and ample space create a series of outdoor rooms foroutdoor entertaining. A minimalistpalette of charcoal colored panels and Western Red Cedar serves as a neutralcanvas, complementing the home’s landscape featuring California native species. Thelarge surface area of the living volume provides an enough surface for overfifty solar panels that allow the residence to be sustainable and remove itselffrom the city power grid. ProjectName: Laurel Hills Residence DesignFirm: Assembledge+ Location:LosAngeles, California Completion:2019 Area:4,900sqft DesignTeam: David Thompson (Principal-in-Charge), Greg Marin (Project Manager), RaulAguilera (Project Architect) StructuralEngineer: CM Peck Contractor:Assembledge+ LandscapeDesign: Fiore Landscape Design InteriorDesign: Susan Mitnick Design StructuralEngineer: CM Peck