Encino, California, USA

Clear Oak is the transformation of a twentieth-century dwelling into a bespoke twenty-first-century home by Brett Woods and Joe Dangaran of Woods + Dangaran, which included enlarging windows and better connecting outdoor and indoor spaces.

The meticulous renovation and restoration of this pedigreed mid-century modern home—once owned by Bing Crosby’s manager—strengthened the connections between the house and its hillside site above the San Fernando Valley. 

For its inspired and transformational design, Clear Oak has recently been awarded a 2022 American Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

Through simple adjustments and alignments, the architectural elements of the house were shifted to accentuate wraparound views of the San Gabriel and Santa Susana mountains. 

The renovations maintain the building’s original footprint and retain the original entrance, which traverses a beautiful courtyard flanked by native plants and trees. 

Minor exterior alterations include a slight reconfiguring of the roofline of the house to smooth out awkward elevation changes, creating a low, continuous profile for the roof and ceilings. 

Enlarged doorways and windows inside the house, including floor-to-ceiling glass doors, integrate the interior spaces with the landscape and foreground views by eliminating barriers. 

Glazed openings inserted along corridors create memorable spatial experiences from new axes and vantage points. 

New custom cabinetry transforms the twentieth-century dwelling into a bespoke twenty-first-century home. 

The living areas extend onto a large entertainment deck, which was raised to the level of the house, furthering the seamless integration of the indoor and outdoor living spaces. 

The backyard pool was relocated to the edge of the property and cantilevered over the hill, widening the view from the master bedroom. 

The finish palette was intentionally limited to four materials: clear anodized aluminum, plaster, travertine, and teak for the wall paneling.

This visual restraint manifests in a serene ambience that permeates all aspects of the residence.

Project: Clear Oak
Architects: Woods + Dangaran
Lead Architects: Brett Woods and Joe Dangaran
Contractor: Dobkin Construction
Client: Private
Photographers: Joe Fletcher