The project is an expansion and major renovation of an existing 1946 two story home. The original builder elected to orient the existing home on a true north-south axis rather than parallel to the adjacent street grid. This decision by the original builder created irregular exterior spaces around the house on site and an interesting relationship between the home and its neighbors.
The existing home needed new windows, a new roof and new siding. Our client’s goals for this project included preserving the ground floor bedrooms, the existing large tree and hedge on the site, expanding the living areas and adding a new master suite. Given the need to preserve the existing tree and the available building area on site, the new kitchen and family room rotate so they are parallel with the property lines and street grid. The new stair occupies the hinge space between the addition and the existing home. Light filters through the bright blue screen that wraps the stair. The stair and screen are visible throughout the ground floor, becoming the means of orientation in both the new and old spaces. The ceiling of the family room rises toward the garden, drawing the eye to the patio and garden beyond. Oak cabinets by Reform and the backsplash by Heath Ceramics round out the material palette in the kitchen/family room. The new principal suite is half a flight above the rest of the second floor which provides both chase space for mechanical ducts in the cavity below and the height above the kitchen/family room addition to sponsor a green roof and deck adjacent to the master suite. The deck is a quiet, secluded exterior space with views of the city and the Santa Monica Mountains.
Expanded, reframed and refreshed, the Shift House has been refashioned to serve our client and their family for years to come.
Project Credits:
DAS
Project Architect: Brooks Dunn
Structural Engineer:
Cattan Engineering
Christian Cattan
General Contractor:
Omega General Contractors, Inc.
Gustavo Fajardo
Paulo Lopez
Photographs © Paul Vu, Here and Now Agency
Used with permission.
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