The Holly Vista Residence project consists of a renovation and addition to a mid-century post-and-beam Pasadena house reminiscent of Cliff May’s California Ranch-style houses. Sited on a hill with views of the Arroyo Seco in the Linda Vista neighborhood, the house is the result of a series of small projects that began with an extension of the house and relocation of the garage. By organizing the extension around the original circulation spine of the existing house, the traditional areas of the house are connected with the multifarious home office. Subsequent projects include the extension of the master bedroom, the addition of an outdoor living room, an update to the pool and pool house, landscape and hardscape. We were also asked to design and fabricate custom office cabinetry and an aluminum and glass dining table.
With the incremental nature of the modifications to the house, our approach was one of extension and unity rather than inserting contrasting design elements. Through this extended process we were able to address the owners’ changing needs and present a contemporary aesthetic, while retaining the home’s original spirit.