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Solar Umbrella
Solar Umbrella
615, Woodlawn Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Solar Umbrella
615, Woodlawn Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Nestled amidst a neighborhood of single story
bungalows in Venice, California, the Solar Umbrella Residence boldly
establishes a precedent for the next generation of California modernist
architecture. Located on a 41’ wide x 100’-0” long through lot, the Solar
Umbrella addition transforms the architects’ existing 650 square foot bungalow
into a 1900 square foot residence equipped for responsible living in the
twenty-first century.
Inspired by Paul Rudolph’s Umbrella House of 1953, the Solar
Umbrella provides a contemporary reinvention of the solar canopy—a strategy
that provides thermal protection in climates with intense exposures. In
establishing the program for their residence, which accommodates the couple and
their one child chose to integrate into the design, principles of
sustainability that they strive to achieve in their own practice. The architects
carefully considered the entire site, taking advantage of as many opportunities
for sustainable living as possible.
Passive and active solar design strategies render the residence 100%
energy neutral. Recycled, renewable, and high performance materials and
products are specified throughout.
Hardscape and landscape treatments are considered for their aesthetic
and actual impact on the land. The
Brooks Scarpa Residence elegantly crafts each of these strategies and
materials, exploiting the potential for performance and sensibility while
achieving a rich and interesting sensory and aesthetic experience.
Taking advantage of the unusual through lot site
condition, the addition shifts the residence 180 degrees from its original
orientation. What was formerly the front and main entry at the north becomes
the back as the new design reorganizes the residence towards the south. This move allows the architects to
create a more gracious introduction to their residence and optimizes exposure
to energy rich southern sunlight.
A bold display of solar panels wrapping around the south elevation and
roof becomes the defining formal expression of the residence. Conceived as a solar canopy, these
panels protect the body of the building from thermal heat gain by screening large
portions of the structure from direct exposure to the intense southern
California sun. Rather than
deflecting sunlight, this state of the art solar skin absorbs and tranforms
this rich resource into usable energy, providing the residence with 100% of its
electricity. Like many
design features at the Solar Umbrella, the solar canopy is multivalent and rich
with meaning—performing several roles for both functional, formal and
experiential effect.
By
removing only one wall at the south, the architects maintain the primary layout
of the existing residence. The
original bungalow, which was tightly packed with program (kitchen, dining,
living, two bedrooms and a bath) is joined by a sizable addition to the south,
which includes a new entry, living area, master suite accommodations, and
utility room for laundry and storage.
The kitchen, which once formed the back edge of the residence, opens
into a large living area, which in turn, opens out to a spacious front yard. An
operable wall of glass at the living area delicately defines the edge between
interior and exterior. An unbroken
visual corridor is established from one end of the property to the other. Taking cues from the California
modernist tradition, the architects conceive of exterior spaces as outdoor
rooms. By creating strong visual and physical links between outside and inside,
these outdoor rooms interlock with interior spaces, blurring the boundary and
creating a more dynamic relationship between the two. The entry sequence along the western edge of the property
further demonstrates this concept.
A cast in place concrete pool provides a stong landscape element and
defines the path to the front entry.
Upon reaching the entry, the pool cascades into a lower tier of water
that penetrates and interlocks with the geometry and form of the residence. In
a move that reinvents the welcome mat, stepping stones immersed in the water
create an initiatory rite of passage into the residence as the visitor is
invited walk across water. The
distinction between outside and inside is once again blurred.
The
master suite on the second level reiterates the strategy of interlocking
space. Located directly above the
new living area, up a set of floating, folded plate steel stairs, the bedroom
strategically opens onto a deep covered patio which overlooks the garden. Conceptually reminiscent of R.M.
Schindler’s Kings Road Residence, this patio extends the bedroom area outdoors,
creating the sensation of a sleeping loft exposed to the exterior. This deep porch carves out an exterior
space within the visual bounds of the building envelope and provides the front
elevation with a distinctive character. What appears to be a significant area
of the second floor is actually never enclosed but rather it is protected by
the planes, which wrap around it.
A
dynamic composition of interlocking solid and void creates a richly layered
depth to the design. Transparency
through the house allows views to penetrate from front to back. The structure appears to sit lightly upon
the land. Formal elements along
these visual corridors—i.e. stairs, bearing walls, structural columns,
guardrails, built-in furniture and cabinetry-- vary in density, color and
texture. Light penetrates the interior of the residence at several locations. A series of stepped roofs, glazed
walls, and clerestory windows broadcast light from multiple directions. Light and shadow—ephemeral and
constantly changing effects--become palpable formal tools that enliven the more
permanent and fixed elements of the design. Together, all of these components establish an effectively
layered composition rich in visual and formal interest.
Throughout
the residence, the architects resourcefully take materials and contextually
reposition them as design elements.
Solar panels, conventionally relegated to a one-dimensional utilitarian
application, define envelope, provide shelter and establish a distinctive
architectural expression.
Homosote, an acoustical panel made from recycled newspaper is
palm-sanded and used as a finish material for custom cabinets. OSB (oriented strand board) a
structural grade building material composed of leftover wood chips compressed
together with high strength adhesive, becomes the primary flooring material
where concrete is not used. Sanded,
stained and sealed, the OSB floor paneling provides a cost effective and
materially responsible alternative to hardwood. Materials are selected for both performance and aesthetic
value. Metal stud construction replaces conventional wood framing. Recycled steel panels, solar powered
in-floor radiant heating, high efficiency appliances and fixtures, and low
v.o.c. paint replace less efficient materials. Decomposed granite and gravel
hardscape, including a stormwater retention basin are used in place of concrete
or stone. Unlike their impervious
alternatives, these materials allow the ground to absorb water and in turn,
mitigate urban run-off to the ocean. Drought tolerant xeriscaping compliments
the textures and palette of the building while providing a low maintenance,
aesthetically appealing landscape.
bungalows in Venice, California, the Solar Umbrella Residence boldly
establishes a precedent for the next generation of California modernist
architecture. Located on a 41’ wide x 100’-0” long through lot, the Solar
Umbrella addition transforms the architects’ existing 650 square foot bungalow
into a 1900 square foot residence equipped for responsible living in the
twenty-first century.
Inspired by Paul Rudolph’s Umbrella House of 1953, the Solar
Umbrella provides a contemporary reinvention of the solar canopy—a strategy
that provides thermal protection in climates with intense exposures. In
establishing the program for their residence, which accommodates the couple and
their one child chose to integrate into the design, principles of
sustainability that they strive to achieve in their own practice. The architects
carefully considered the entire site, taking advantage of as many opportunities
for sustainable living as possible.
Passive and active solar design strategies render the residence 100%
energy neutral. Recycled, renewable, and high performance materials and
products are specified throughout.
Hardscape and landscape treatments are considered for their aesthetic
and actual impact on the land. The
Brooks Scarpa Residence elegantly crafts each of these strategies and
materials, exploiting the potential for performance and sensibility while
achieving a rich and interesting sensory and aesthetic experience.
Taking advantage of the unusual through lot site
condition, the addition shifts the residence 180 degrees from its original
orientation. What was formerly the front and main entry at the north becomes
the back as the new design reorganizes the residence towards the south. This move allows the architects to
create a more gracious introduction to their residence and optimizes exposure
to energy rich southern sunlight.
A bold display of solar panels wrapping around the south elevation and
roof becomes the defining formal expression of the residence. Conceived as a solar canopy, these
panels protect the body of the building from thermal heat gain by screening large
portions of the structure from direct exposure to the intense southern
California sun. Rather than
deflecting sunlight, this state of the art solar skin absorbs and tranforms
this rich resource into usable energy, providing the residence with 100% of its
electricity. Like many
design features at the Solar Umbrella, the solar canopy is multivalent and rich
with meaning—performing several roles for both functional, formal and
experiential effect.
By
removing only one wall at the south, the architects maintain the primary layout
of the existing residence. The
original bungalow, which was tightly packed with program (kitchen, dining,
living, two bedrooms and a bath) is joined by a sizable addition to the south,
which includes a new entry, living area, master suite accommodations, and
utility room for laundry and storage.
The kitchen, which once formed the back edge of the residence, opens
into a large living area, which in turn, opens out to a spacious front yard. An
operable wall of glass at the living area delicately defines the edge between
interior and exterior. An unbroken
visual corridor is established from one end of the property to the other. Taking cues from the California
modernist tradition, the architects conceive of exterior spaces as outdoor
rooms. By creating strong visual and physical links between outside and inside,
these outdoor rooms interlock with interior spaces, blurring the boundary and
creating a more dynamic relationship between the two. The entry sequence along the western edge of the property
further demonstrates this concept.
A cast in place concrete pool provides a stong landscape element and
defines the path to the front entry.
Upon reaching the entry, the pool cascades into a lower tier of water
that penetrates and interlocks with the geometry and form of the residence. In
a move that reinvents the welcome mat, stepping stones immersed in the water
create an initiatory rite of passage into the residence as the visitor is
invited walk across water. The
distinction between outside and inside is once again blurred.
The
master suite on the second level reiterates the strategy of interlocking
space. Located directly above the
new living area, up a set of floating, folded plate steel stairs, the bedroom
strategically opens onto a deep covered patio which overlooks the garden. Conceptually reminiscent of R.M.
Schindler’s Kings Road Residence, this patio extends the bedroom area outdoors,
creating the sensation of a sleeping loft exposed to the exterior. This deep porch carves out an exterior
space within the visual bounds of the building envelope and provides the front
elevation with a distinctive character. What appears to be a significant area
of the second floor is actually never enclosed but rather it is protected by
the planes, which wrap around it.
A
dynamic composition of interlocking solid and void creates a richly layered
depth to the design. Transparency
through the house allows views to penetrate from front to back. The structure appears to sit lightly upon
the land. Formal elements along
these visual corridors—i.e. stairs, bearing walls, structural columns,
guardrails, built-in furniture and cabinetry-- vary in density, color and
texture. Light penetrates the interior of the residence at several locations. A series of stepped roofs, glazed
walls, and clerestory windows broadcast light from multiple directions. Light and shadow—ephemeral and
constantly changing effects--become palpable formal tools that enliven the more
permanent and fixed elements of the design. Together, all of these components establish an effectively
layered composition rich in visual and formal interest.
Throughout
the residence, the architects resourcefully take materials and contextually
reposition them as design elements.
Solar panels, conventionally relegated to a one-dimensional utilitarian
application, define envelope, provide shelter and establish a distinctive
architectural expression.
Homosote, an acoustical panel made from recycled newspaper is
palm-sanded and used as a finish material for custom cabinets. OSB (oriented strand board) a
structural grade building material composed of leftover wood chips compressed
together with high strength adhesive, becomes the primary flooring material
where concrete is not used. Sanded,
stained and sealed, the OSB floor paneling provides a cost effective and
materially responsible alternative to hardwood. Materials are selected for both performance and aesthetic
value. Metal stud construction replaces conventional wood framing. Recycled steel panels, solar powered
in-floor radiant heating, high efficiency appliances and fixtures, and low
v.o.c. paint replace less efficient materials. Decomposed granite and gravel
hardscape, including a stormwater retention basin are used in place of concrete
or stone. Unlike their impervious
alternatives, these materials allow the ground to absorb water and in turn,
mitigate urban run-off to the ocean. Drought tolerant xeriscaping compliments
the textures and palette of the building while providing a low maintenance,
aesthetically appealing landscape.
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