Mar Vista House No. 1
On a small secluded West Los Angeles lot surrounded by dense vines and trees, a small post-war bungalow is wholly transformed into an indoor-outdoor entertaining space for a creative couple, their twin children and dog. A mandate to avoid drywall is met through the use of wood and concrete finishes and large expanses of sliding glass. The project is organized around a rhythmic layer of heavy beams running from front to back and blurring the line between inside and out.
Surrounding the beams are essentially three private volumes; the children’s bedrooms on one side, an ADU on the other, and a primary suite above. Common living space is consolidated and situated at the rear of the property, below the beamed canopy and amongst the landscape. The beams lead one through a small entry
court and into a central mixing chamber, where all spaces can be accessed, but where the outdoor patio and pool almost beckon the visitor to proceed to immediately.
The compression that occurs at the entry and corridor are rewarded with a sense of openness and lightness upon arriving at the indoor-outdoor living space. Despite their size and heft, the beams never feel oppressive. Because they are hung from above, the removeable barrier between inside and out is reduced to a thin slider track and the beams almost hover
above the space like an umbrella. The stair slips between two beams, enabling access to the primary suite above and a chance to feel the beams as one passes through to above.
Despite it’s small size, the house feels open, airy and connected to the outdoors, while still providing cozy, intimate private spaces tucked away yet still easily accessible.
