Simpatica Sem - meaning the blending of mind and soul - is the client's name for his residence in the Malibu Hills. This home is a "phoenix" building rising from the ashes, 10 years after the great Malibu fire of 1994.

The structure humbly pays homage to a proud lineage of modern homes. The Eames house, Albert Frey's desert home, Neutra's Lovell house and other local and internationally recognized projects inspired us with their elegant simplicity.

Turning a tragic fire into a victory over the elements and creating a new home that functions exactly as it should (and did not years ago) is extremely gratifying for our team.

Photos: John Linden

Out Sagaponac Lot 30 house is one of 34 homes commissioned by New York's developer Coco Brown to occupy a unique subdivision in the Hamptons in New York.

This 3,400 square foot, 3 bedrooms, 3-1/2 bathroom summer house is set upon a 2' high wooden plinth to reach up for the sunlight through the dense forest. Budget pointed us toward a simple partie-a 20' wide double rectangle plan-form connected by a thin glass hall surrounding a central courtyard. The narrow width of the rectangular volumes economizes on structural costs to repetition of beam and joist sizes while gaining openness and view along both longitudinal elevations.

The projects' design is intended to minimalist-almost a mirror of the forest it sits within. If it were to visually disappear, that would be our ultimate goal-a reflection of nature. For those inside: our mission was to create the finest line between interior and exterior space, so that all can be viewed without interruption.

Rendered by: David Ellien

Timeless, functional, affordable, modernist, and warm; These were our clients' most important requirements for their new 3,500 square foot Benedict Canyon home in Los Angeles.

The 2-story structure responds to a long list of functional issues: street orientation, views to the hillside at the back, lighting, privacy, acoustics, love of cooking and budget. Esthetically, we were influenced by a number of modernist and case study homes located nearby.

Large expanses of glass unseen from the street, allow each room a view of the hills and the ravine beyond. The "L" shaped plan is rotated on the site in order to obtain optimal views and increase the south side yard adjacent to the lower bedroom. The street façade is intentionally long, sculptural and opaque. This helps mitigate road noise and creates privacy.

Photos: Erhard Pfeiffer

Located on a lush hillside behind a main residence, this small structure housing a psychologist's office/guesthouse is just a few steps away from home yet it feels like a protected sanctuary.

Solving the problem of an ever-frustrating commute, this home-office offers both privacy and convenience while enhancing the property's value. It also can double as a guesthouse for visiting friends or family.

The owners insisted on a minimalist design that was to be flexible, modern, private, warm and contextual. The structure's highly articulated form is composed of a series of angled cedar wall planes. "Breaking of the box" into a series of angled walls allows the building to more effectively blend into its environment.

Each plan angle responds to room function, view corridors, light quality and programmatic flexibility. The waiting room can also double as a guest room and has its own entrance. The main office space has its own entrance and it can double as a living room. Both spaces have abundant views to the eucalyptus trees and lush landscape. A bathroom, entrance closet and small "kitchenette" round out the program.

Interiors are simple and take a back seat to the views framed by the large wood trimmed windows. Staying with the natural palette of materials expressed on the exterior, the interior's floors are maple and ceilings, doors, windows and cabinetry are vertical grain Douglas fir. Walls are simple white painted drywall and lighting is suspended below the wood purlins on stainless steel cable tacks.

The new landscaping, steps and site walls tie in with the materials used elsewhere on the site. Broken concrete steps and retaining walls, bamboo hedges, red flax, liriope shrubs and young eucalyptus trees will one day mature to create a seamless blend with their older counterparts.

Photos: John Linden

Hollywood-Western is a unique mixed-use courtyard housing project located on the southeast corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Western Avenue. It includes 60 units of various sized low-income apartments, 12,000 square feet of retail space and a child care facility for 40 children.

The project is being built directly over a MTA subway station which encourages convenient, environmentally sensitive mass transit around the city.

The targeted residents for the apartments are families. The units are arranged in a "U" shaped plan configuration with the open end of the "U" facing south. This plan form creates a large courtyard, which is filled with natural daylight.

Photos: John Linden

Inspired by nearby modernist iconic apartment projects by Richard Neutra, the Bentley - Massachusetts apartments in Los Angeles' Westwood district humbly acknowledges Neutra's theory of the razor-thin line between inside and out.

Large expanses of glass, fourth floor terraces and wide, street facing balconies bring light and fresh air into these spacious units.

Smooth plaster, mosaic tile and a clear anodized commercial window system comprise a restrained palette.

Photos: John Linden

Situated in the elegant Las Palmas district in Palm Springs, the modernist Promontory Residence is planned and designed to respond seamlessly to the desert climate, light and view. The 8,000 square foot house inspired by the nearby Kaufmann house designed by Richard Neutra, has large expanses of glass shaded by deep overhangs to reduce heat and glare. Pools and water features are used throughout to help cool the house, and emotionally inspire the residents.

The plan is arranged around a central courtyard that protects important outdoor areas from wind and direct sunlight. The lush courtyard is a counterpoint to the expansive arid desert views. However, at the base of the property the O'Donnell golf course creates a rich large green carpet of lawn that is visually soothing.

The 12 acre site accommodates not only the main residence, but also a tennis court, cabana and guesthouse and a separate maid’s quarters and additional garages.

Rendered by: David Ellien

The 511 house is designed to take full advantage of the bright light and cool Southern California breezes of Pacific Palisades. Blurring the line between inside and outside was of the highest priority. To do this, the main body of the glass clad 3,500 square foot two-story home was pushed to the north side of the 60' x 120' lot (the size of a tennis court). A wide patio used extensively for dining and play extends to the south off of the lower level and it is this generous setback that allows the southern light to penetrate the house. Large sliding glass doors pull away, welcoming sea breezes. They also allow the inside to merge with the outside.

Photo 1: John Ellis
All Others: John Linden