Villa with pool Los Angeles main view
Villa with pool Los Angeles main view

Los Angeles Villa. Internalizing the landscape to experience the house as being one with nature

Composed of three pavilions connected by a series of glass corridors, this one-story residence becomes a residential oasis in the heart of Los Angeles. A villa integrated into the surrounding nature where the outdoor space is designed with the same attention as the interiors becoming one with the house

The Western Red Cedar pavilion that houses the guest house and the garage connects the two larger volumes of the pavilions that house the living area and the sleeping area. A deep overhang tones down solar gain and shades the house from sun exposure. The entrance to the house is located within a glass corridor that connects the pavilion housing the living area to the west and the pavilion housing the sleeping area to the east and establishes an initial sense of intimacy before engaging with the other parts of the house

Villa with pool Los Angeles outdoor seating space

The fluidity of the spaces between the kitchen, breakfast room and bedroom creates a blend of transparency and lightness. The glass corridor connecting the guest pavilion to the living area makes a metaphorical reference to the house's history, evoking memories of an old creek that once ran through the property. Unlike many iconic Los Angeles houses that are oriented toward panoramic views of the city, the Laurel Hills Residence is located at the foot of the famous Laurel Canyon, which gives the villa a secluded location with a majestic backdrop of lush and mature trees

Villa with pool Los Angeles outdoor seating space

The designers wanted to handle the exterior the same way they handle the interior. The surrounding trees and hills are considered to be the wrapping of the building, and the exterior walls of the house are reconceived as a series of partitions. Instead of externalizing only the interior spaces, the exterior spaces are also internalized. Large windows, skylights, and inlaid doors infuse the house with natural light, reflecting off wood floors and marble countertops

Villa with pool Los Angeles outdoor seating space

Outside, the 40-foot-long pool becomes the aesthetic and functional centerpiece of outdoor entertaining.  A minimalist palette of charcoal-colored panels and western red cedar serves as a neutral canvas, complementing the house's landscape with native California species. The large living volume provides a large enough area for over fifty solar panels enabling the residence to be sustainable and off the city's power grid

Villa with pool Los Angeles outdoor seating space

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