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Houzz Tour: Multicultural Modern California Home
Three African-inspired courtyards, an impressive art collection and exterior shades combine in a dynamic Venice Beach residence
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Architect Steven Ehrlich designed his house to incorporate architectural moves he learned living in Africa, a modern aesthetic and the climate and community of Venice Beach, California. The house is just a few blocks from lively Abbot Kinney Boulevard. "It's so much fun to be part of a walking community in L.A.," he says. "We can pop out for coffee, shopping or a bite to eat, and all of the activity of the boardwalk and beach is only 1 kilometer away."
In designing a home for one of Venice Beach's typically long and narrow lots, he recalled lessons he'd learned from the local architecture of Nigeria and the courtyard layout of houses in the medinas in Morocco, calling his approach "multicultural modernism." The result is a house that takes advantage of the climate and uses natural systems and technology to boost the home's efficiency.
The design also takes advantage of every inch of the narrow lot in a way that respects the neighborhood, opening wide to incorporate three interior courtyards that provide additional living space.
Houzz at a Glance:
Who lives here: Steven Ehrlich and his wife, Nancy Griffin
Location: Venice Beach, California
Main house: 2,800 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
Guest house/garage: 1,200 square feet; 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms.
That's interesting: While teaching in Nigeria, Ehrlich designed a theater made of mud for the drama department.
In designing a home for one of Venice Beach's typically long and narrow lots, he recalled lessons he'd learned from the local architecture of Nigeria and the courtyard layout of houses in the medinas in Morocco, calling his approach "multicultural modernism." The result is a house that takes advantage of the climate and uses natural systems and technology to boost the home's efficiency.
The design also takes advantage of every inch of the narrow lot in a way that respects the neighborhood, opening wide to incorporate three interior courtyards that provide additional living space.
Houzz at a Glance:
Who lives here: Steven Ehrlich and his wife, Nancy Griffin
Location: Venice Beach, California
Main house: 2,800 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
Guest house/garage: 1,200 square feet; 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms.
That's interesting: While teaching in Nigeria, Ehrlich designed a theater made of mud for the drama department.
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| The entire site plan responds to the narrow lot, which is 132 feet long by 43 feet wide, as well as to the greater community. Ehrlich's design steps the upper floors back from the street side out of respect for the many one-story bungalows in the neighborhood. A large steel exoskeleton stretches past the house's elevation, uniting indoor and outdoor spaces. A guest house/garage is on the right and provides an extra bedroom suite, a laundry room and a gallery-like space. |
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| The elevation steps up away from the sidewalk, so that its height and volumes respect the streetscape. From the left we see the pool, the mezzanine level and its deck with the master suite and terrace on top. The home does not have air conditioning; instead its ventilation design makes the most of cross breezes. Pivoting glass doors off the dining area open up to one of the home's three exterior courtyards. The large expanse of glass opposite the dining room doors also opens up to let in the breeze. |
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Materials are carried throughout the property, some repeated on the interior, exterior and fence walls. Ehrlich paid extra attention to using sustainable materials as well. The siding is Trex, which is usually used for decking and is made up of recycled sawdust and plastic. The steel is Cor-Ten, which has a rusty patina that transforms over time. Concrete blocks are used inside and out.
Concrete floors throughout the first floor provide radiant heat during the colder months and help keep things cool during the summer.
Concrete floors throughout the first floor provide radiant heat during the colder months and help keep things cool during the summer.
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| An exterior wall articulates the perimeter edge of the property and inside creates Ehrlich's unique, somewhat inside-out take on Moroccan homes that open to hidden courtyards. This wall is composed of Trex, concrete blocks that match the ones used inside the house, and LUMAsite, a translucent combination of fiberglass and acrylic. The next edge is one that transforms; Ehrlich used a dynamic system of sunshades, mounted across the top and down the long street side of the exoskeleton to control temperature, light and privacy. |
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| The shades are motorized and dramatically change and enliven the facade. Ehrlich fell in love with this vibrant color combination of burnt sienna and yellow ochre while serving in the peace corps in Morocco; the colors were inspired by the wood-dyeing souks in Marrakech. They also work well with the colors of the rusted Cor-Ten steel. |
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“The added benefit of this design, because of its scale, is that it also transforms the pool area into a spatially exciting new space," Ehrlich explains. "The fact that the shades can move also means that there are multiple options of not only sun control but of spatial quality."
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| "The shades can control the amount of direct sunlight penetrating into the house from the southwest elevation," explains Ehrlich. "When the shades are on the exterior of the house it is a very effective sun control method," he says. |
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Inside, the first floor has a wide-open plan from one end to the other. It's even more wide-open when the glass doors are opened to their adjacent courtyards at either end, extending to the outdoor living spaces. "When the house is closed, it can be quite cozy on a cold and rainy night," says Ehrlich. "When everything is opened up, the house transforms into something more like a pavilion."
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At one end, the dining area looks out onto a courtyard and the guest house/garage beyond. The wall is the same concrete block used on the perimeter wall outside. No paint was used indoors; all of the materials used are meant to weather naturally.
Painting: Ed Moses
Painting: Ed Moses
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| A courtyard connects the dining area to the guest house/garage and provides an outdoor room to lounge al fresco. Saving large existing trees was crucial to the site planning. |
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An expansive living room opens up to its own courtyard on the opposite side of the plan from the dining room. The 16-foot by 16-foot glass expanse completely opens to the courtyard and the view of a large Aleppo Pine tree. Minimal detailing blurs the line between indoors and out, whether the doors are closed or open. I'm sure that their dog, Joey, must have thoroughly enjoyed never needing a doggy door.
Ehrlich designed the sofa and coffee table himself; the vintage Boomerang chairs are by iconic California modernist Richard Neutra.The large painting is by L.A. artist Ed Moses. The house serves as a gallery for the couple's impressive art collection.
Ehrlich designed the sofa and coffee table himself; the vintage Boomerang chairs are by iconic California modernist Richard Neutra.The large painting is by L.A. artist Ed Moses. The house serves as a gallery for the couple's impressive art collection.
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| This Japanese-inspired tansu staircase displays objects collected from worldwide travels. |
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| This staircase terminates at the mezzanine level, which includes two bedroom "pods" and a bathroom, and a street-side terrace just beyond the pool. Black and white artwork: Guy Dill |
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Beyond the stairs, a mezzanine-level glass bridge connects to a second staircase up to the master suite. This long landing provides a unique experience of the space between the two floors. "It's like you're floating as you walk across the glass," describes Ehrlich.
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| The sunshades transform the master bath's view. Waterproof plaster protects the bathroom from moisture and reflects light. |
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| The natural ventilation carries through to the top master suite floor, which has large openings to the outdoors and its own private terrace. |
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The home is a living, breathing entity, thanks to the combination of the movable sunshades, the changing patina of the Cor-Ten steel, the large openings and the attention paid to sustainable materials and systems. The location in this funky and lively beach community suits the couple's lifestyle and entices their grown children (and other family and friends) to visit.
More:
Modern Awnings: Sails Shade the Home
Regional Modern: L.A. Coast Homes Soak in the View
Houzz Tour: A Sleek Prefab Warms Up
More:
Modern Awnings: Sails Shade the Home
Regional Modern: L.A. Coast Homes Soak in the View
Houzz Tour: A Sleek Prefab Warms Up
Ideabook published on May 26, 2012.
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I particularly appreciate your attention to the shades--I'm working on designing similar shading for my house now.
Having a home with a courtyard myself, I know how wonderful a completely private outdoor space is, like a real room without a roof. Great use of shades for sun control and privacy as well as visual interest. Kudos for incorporating the good old cross ventilation. Some days per year it'll be hot - that's called summer. ;-)
I could definitely live there!
OKEY ANUEYIAGU