Los Angeles, California, USA
Sited on a hill sloping toward panoramic views of downtown Los Angeles, this private family residence designed by Mutuus Studio is the result of a close collaboration between the architects and the client allowing every element to be thoughtfully curated and considered to result in a seamless experience of place.
Lead architect Kristen Becker drew from her background in dance to inform the design.
With choreography in mind, the flow of the main rooms weaves together multiple outdoor spaces which allow for moments of pause between the living spaces.
The approach to the home brings visitors down a central exterior stair across a bridge looking down into a secret garden courtyard.
Native palms and vegetation surround the interlocking volumes where the public spaces soar over the pool and the private bedrooms are nestled in the hillside.
a series of garden courts lush with native vegetation are subtly carved out between concrete and steel volumes to capture breezes.
Covered trellises and overhangs provide shelter from the sun while exterior sliding sunscreens frame views of the sky, mountain, and city beyond.
A central west dining terrace with a pivoting steel door links public and private spaces and provides an outdoor dining room with sunset views.
The kitchen area is made of blackened steel and walnut veneered cabinets with brass accents.
The dining area is made up of caramel leather chairs and features a circular, dark central hearth acting as a subtle separative element between the kitchen and living area.
The living area is filled with eclectic artifacts featuring African masks, a willy Daro bronze table, and a cast from a childhood bone break displayed like a relic.
Light pours into the space through the black steel Brombal windows.
The far wall of the living area is all glass and looks south and provides a breathtaking panorama of Los Angeles.
One of the most notable features of the living space is a heavy metal gear-and-chain pivoting window, not only an opulent gesture that complements the interior objects but also emphasizes the idea of ever-changing, interweaving spaces.
A pivoting window opens to the east terrace and a secondary dining room, allowing the visitor to zigzag down to the pool and lower guest rooms.
The timeless and natural earth-toned palette of the interior furnishings, objects, and art adds richness and warmth to the home.
Care was taken to balance the scale of an heirloom piece of art mounted on the steel and concrete structure.
The interiors informed the architecture and the architecture informed the interior.
Project: Hollywood Hills Residence
Architects: Mutuus Studio
Lead Architect: Kristen Becker
Design Team: Renee Boone, CJ Christensen, Mia Sara, and Jerry Sarapochiello
Contractor: Dowbuilt
Photographers: Kevin Scott
