Laurel Hills Residence

Located in the foothills of the Fryman Canyon Estates in Studio City, the Laurel Hills Residence seeks to create a residential oasis in the heart of Los Angeles.

One of the main goals of the project was to allow the living experience to engage with as much of the natural landscape of the property as possible.

The single-story residence is composed of three pavilions connected by a series of glass bridges. The Western Red Cedar lined guest house/garage pavilion establishes a datum line that carves and connects the two larger volumes of the living and sleeping pavilions, comprised of oversized charcoal-colored board, batten extira and cement board siding. A deep and thickened overhang mitigates solar heat gain and shields the living and sleeping areas from sun exposure.

A linear walkway of concrete pavers, surrounded by wild grasses and vertical Western Red Cedar leads to the house’s front door, passing a tranquil courtyard lined with olive trees. The entry point to the house is located within a glass bridge, connecting the living pavilion to the west and the sleeping pavilion to the east, thereby establishing a sense of intimate scale before engaging with the other parts of the house.

West to the living pavilion is the kitchen, breakfast room and family room, designed to enable an uninterrupted movement and entertainment. The fluidity between these areas creates a harmony of balance, transparency, and lightness, allowing the kitchen to feel like a part of the exterior. A series of operable walls disappear, establishing indoor/outdoor living experience. Large windows and sliding doors create a series of layering vignettes, and along with skylights infuse the home with light, reflecting off wooden floors and marble countertops.

Outside, the 40-foot-long pool and ample space create a series of outdoor rooms for outdoor entertaining.  A minimalist palette of charcoal-colored panels and Western Red Cedar serves as a neutral canvas, complementing the home’s landscape featuring California native species.

The large surface area of the living volume provides enough surface for over fifty solar panels that allow the residence to be sustainable and remove itself from the city power grid.