Grand View Residence
This property is perched atop of prestigious Mar Vista Hill. A sought-after location in Mar Vista, properties in this vicinity sit at a much higher elevation (+200 feet more) than all adjacent communities offering superb sweeping views of the surrounding mountains as well as Santa Monica, West LA, Century City, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Venice and the Pacific Ocean.
The homeowners privately entertain so they requested an open concept floor plan at the ground floor positioned to wrap the rear yard swimming pool and raised wood deck all at one continuous floor level.
The home was designed as a retreat with the layout considering the location of two existing, significant mature trees at the front yard where a textured concrete driveway gently curves around the one tree while a classic front yard lawn stitches the space between the house and remaining boundaries. The front facades offers strong privacy from the street while masking the open plan delight of the rear yard outdoor living spaces.
While accommodating the homeowner’s love for having friends over and catching up, whether at the elevated balconies of the second floor or by the pool or in the kitchen, Hsu McCullough opened the interior to the side and rear yard exteriors. The architects added more intrigue along the indoor / outdoor threshold by designing an exposed steel structure at the glazed openings of the Living Room that delineates the boundary between the swimming pool and interior space: A “W”-shaped steel brace frame - painted white that turns 90 degrees at the open corner and carries the glass planes - marks the threshold while clasping the open corner of the Master Bedroom with exterior balcony above.
The rear yard second floor balcony is divided into two uses: One half forms a private outdoor space accessed from the Master Bedroom while the second half of the balcony spills from the interior communal Den at the center of the second floor: From a balcony adjoining the Den, one can climb to an upper roof deck lounge.
This upper roof deck provides the most arresting views of the surrounding communities of Los Angeles and is perfect for evening lounging with family and friends. Hsu McCullough expressed the circulation to this upper roof deck as an architectural feature - part of the home’s exterior facade - a skeletal steel stringer and steel guardrail with open riser concrete steps placed in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Master Bedroom.
The stair’s placement - a nod to the angled form of the exposed structural brace frame below - allows for stunning bird’s eye views of the swimming pool, wood deck, yard and second floor roof planters below as well as extraordinary vistas of the city.
The homeowners privately entertain so they requested an open concept floor plan at the ground floor positioned to wrap the rear yard swimming pool and raised wood deck all at one continuous floor level.
The home was designed as a retreat with the layout considering the location of two existing, significant mature trees at the front yard where a textured concrete driveway gently curves around the one tree while a classic front yard lawn stitches the space between the house and remaining boundaries. The front facades offers strong privacy from the street while masking the open plan delight of the rear yard outdoor living spaces.
While accommodating the homeowner’s love for having friends over and catching up, whether at the elevated balconies of the second floor or by the pool or in the kitchen, Hsu McCullough opened the interior to the side and rear yard exteriors. The architects added more intrigue along the indoor / outdoor threshold by designing an exposed steel structure at the glazed openings of the Living Room that delineates the boundary between the swimming pool and interior space: A “W”-shaped steel brace frame - painted white that turns 90 degrees at the open corner and carries the glass planes - marks the threshold while clasping the open corner of the Master Bedroom with exterior balcony above.
The rear yard second floor balcony is divided into two uses: One half forms a private outdoor space accessed from the Master Bedroom while the second half of the balcony spills from the interior communal Den at the center of the second floor: From a balcony adjoining the Den, one can climb to an upper roof deck lounge.
This upper roof deck provides the most arresting views of the surrounding communities of Los Angeles and is perfect for evening lounging with family and friends. Hsu McCullough expressed the circulation to this upper roof deck as an architectural feature - part of the home’s exterior facade - a skeletal steel stringer and steel guardrail with open riser concrete steps placed in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Master Bedroom.
The stair’s placement - a nod to the angled form of the exposed structural brace frame below - allows for stunning bird’s eye views of the swimming pool, wood deck, yard and second floor roof planters below as well as extraordinary vistas of the city.
Project Year: 2020
Project Cost: $1,000,001 - $1,500,000
Country: United States
Zip Code: 90066
