Site
The house is located on a flat, irregular shaped lot at the end of cul-de-sac. The neighborhood contains a variety of styles and references to the preferred suburban desert subdivision architecture.

Program
The house is designed for a retired couple with the need for guest bedroom suites and a large communal space for the living dining, and kitchen areas.

To achieve a feeling of "simplicity" within conventional means, it was decided that planning and construction must be straightforward and the character of the house reflect a strategy of enclosure and openness focused toward the main outdoor space. Two simple volumes are connected together to define a corner with one wing containing the guest bedrooms, and the other containing the master suite. The two wings are connected at the main living, dining, and kitchen space.

The project brief was to add a 1,200 square foot second story addition to an existing 1,450 square foot ground floor. The program for the young family consisted of four bedrooms, three baths, kitchen, family, and dining room.

A sense of openness and a stronger relationship to the exterior was desired by the clients. A bedroom, bathroom, garage, and the east wall of the existing house were maintained and through abstract diagramming of the existing spatial conditions, a sense of clearing was the strategy for creating a dialogue between new and old.

The formal living room was eliminated from the program and one large communal space with a direct connection to the exterior green space was created. The office, kitchen, and dining room fold off this space and are connected by a vertical/horizontal circulation zone. Stairs, front door, openings to a rear deck, and the corridor leading to the garage become the points of connection.

The central circulation zone also connects the master bedroom with the front entry hall and is reinforced by a continuous tilted roof plane that slopes from the front entry hall and ends at the master bedroom.

Slight angles, tilted roof planes and cutouts along the length of the house manipulate and carve the vertical space to allow for maximum light to modulate throughout the house as well as for natural cooling from ocean breezes to circulate.

Large corner glazing at the family room opens up the interior with views of the back deck and green space and connects the front dining room with its glazing facing the street. This forges a connection between the community at large and the family within.

Simple materials of exterior plaster, douglas fir siding, mahogany windows and doors, translucent glass, combined with oak flooring, maple cabinetry, slate counter tops, and ceramic tile bathrooms.

Program
Complete interior refurbishment of a 3,000 square foot penthouse condominium. The existing floor plan was maintained except where key walls were removed to open up the kitchen to the dining/living room space. An opening from the master bedroom to the adjacent bedroom was created to allow the combined spaces to work together as an office/master suite. New finishes included slate floors, custom walnut cabinets, marble and stainless steel countertops, stone and tile bathrooms, oak floor, stainless steel handrails, translucent glass partitions. New lighting, plumbing, HVAC ductwork and a state-of-the-art computer/satellite/audio system was installed.

Program
Interior and exterior refurbishment of an existing 1970's ranch style house. Areas of work included the kitchen, living, dining room, guest bedroom/bathroom, and master bedroom/bathroom.

The subtle insertion of a walnut wall redefines the unfocused living space into discrete areas for conversation, eating, and circulation. The wall houses an entertainment system, bookshelves, and display boxes accessed from either side. New openings, soffits and redefined room proportions were needed to correct the flow and pour arrangement of spaces. New floor finishes, custom cabinetry, lighting, glass screens, a stone veneer wall, and custom design furniture will create a defined modern aesthetic.

Site
An irregular site, with a natural stream bisecting the heavily wooded site in the Santa Monica Mountains above Rustic Canyon.

Program
New 6,500 square foot residence with 5 bedrooms/bathrooms, living, media room. A 1,250 square foot guest house, and a 1,500 square foot pool/playroom.

Site
A large hillside lot overlooking the Bighorn Golf Course. Large natural rock outcroppings and a vertical drop to the golf course below gives the site an uninterrupted view of the Coachella Valley to the east.

Program
A new 7,000 square foot residence with 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms including two master suites. The shared entertainment spaces include a screening room, living room/family room, and art gallery/entry bridge.

The natural landscape became the formal operative behind the response to this unique site. The negative space between two rock outcroppings informed a strategy of positioning walls to focus the views from the interior to the exterior. A titled roof plane lifts at various points to enhance the spatial continuum of the framed landscape. Exterior hardscape spaces were situated to take advantage of the natural rock outcroppings providing enclosure and privacy to the two private master suite spaces.

The 1738 Residence is located on a narrow tract lot 45 by 135 feet in size. The project is a new addition of 525 square feet and a complete renovation to accommodate a growing young family. The client = the architect and his family. The initial constraints of a limited budget, a small site and the need for more space was apparent, however the aspirations of a young architect seemed to overwhelm the purpose for a straightforward expansion.

A condition of respect towards the existing structure was acknowledged, however a transitional assemblage of new spaces was desired. The new addition/remodel explores location, extension, and expansion. While the new project hopes to control the site, the site governs the configuration of the building. The negative space between the existing structure, the legal setback lines, and the existing accessory building provided a confinable location for the new intervention. New wall planes parallel to the long site axis inform the condition of linkage and provide a threshold for the extension of views from the entry to the backyard garden. An imprint of a demolished bedroom is preserved in the horizontal plane by the placement of a new steel column and in the vertical, by an exploded family room volume signifying expansion.

The new master bedroom/bathroom addition extends the simplistic massing of the existing structure, and provides enclosure to the void spaces between house, accessory building, and fence. A path of stone leads one back to a floating deck off the master bedroom and unfolds to a children's play space behind the proposed studio.

A strong relationship to the exterior green space is desired and the use of large areas of glass defines this notion. The family room, hallway and master bedroom all end with views towards this green space in the backyard. Built-in cabinets and furniture are situated at key points which accentuate directionality towards the exterior establishing a new order of connection.

A 16-unit townhome project.