Venice Beach House / Montalba Architects

 

 

Curated by Paula Pintos

HOUSES

 

 

 

 

LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES

Architects: Montalba Architects

Area: 5625 ft²

Year: 2019

Photographs:Kevin Scott

Manufacturers: AutoDesk, Chaos Group, Lutron, Duravit, Miele, Subzero/Wolf, Adobe, Bluebeam, Flare Fireplace, Fleetwood, Kohler, Newburry, Outdoor Shower Company, Toto, Trimble, Waterworks, Wolf

Contractor: Sarlan Builders

Civil Engineer: Wynn Engineering Inc.

Structural Engineer: The Office of Gordon L. Polon

Landscape Designer: Bent Grass Landscape Design

Energy Consultant: Newton Energy & Newton Architects

Lighting Designer: Oculus Light Studio

Products used in this Project

Soils Engineer: Geotech Services

Waterproofing Consultant: Roofing & Waterproofing Forensics Inc.

City: Los Angeles

Country: United States

 

 

 

 

Text description provided by the architects. This single-family residence was designed to meld together indoor and outdoor programs through tethered courtyards and gardens. The airy Venice Beach home was designed with the intent of blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces to achieve a warm, tranquil home. The design began with its exterior, to ensure the family could enjoy the perks of Southern California’s year-round mild climate. Almost every space is connected with a sister outdoor space to further blur the distinction between in and out.

 

 

 

 

Save this picture!Venice Beach House / Montalba Architects - Exterior Photography, Windows, Facade© Kevin Scott

The general sense of warmth throughout the home is driven by the use of natural materials like wood. By contrast, the concrete block walls give the home an almost midcentury sensibility while clearly creating a dialogue with the wood and other earth tones. Woven into the home’s design are three ‘gardens,’ all varying in scale and function. The larger garden creates drama, while two smaller gardens allow for intimacy and moments of pause.

 

 

 

 

A series of parallel datum walls constructed of concrete blocks anchor the gardens and organize the interior spaces around the exterior space. The main gathering spaces (living room, family room, kitchen, and a pool house) feature sliding glass doors adjacent to the cement block walls.