Glencoe Avenue House

The project is located in the Venice neighborhood of Los Angeles.  The brief was to provide a new home for a young family of four, with a detached multi-purpose ADU that can adapt over time.  They were turned off by the plethora of “soulless moderns” that developers were building in the area and wanted the antithesis of the “white box”.

An exaggerated gable roof structure houses the two story main dwelling—its asymmetrical geometry responds to zoning setbacks of the corner lot while creating a dynamic interior volume.  The bedrooms are located on the upper level with the public spaces on the ground floor—which spill outside to a generous patio and backyard. 

An existing avocado tree, which helped place the buildings, can be viewed from both floors and the ADU.  The ADU bookends the backyard and contains additional living space, kitchenette & dining, a bedroom, bath and office.  It acts as living space for overflow, a private suite for quests, a separate home office, and can also serve as a stand alone dwelling unit when the homeowners’ needs change. 

The interiors consist of polished concrete, white oak, ceramic tile, and white painted grooved paneling.  The exterior contrasts in comparison with its rich dark textures of corrugated metal roofing and black stained rough sawn western cedar.

Photography: Here And Now Agency