An ultra-low profile butterfly roof replaces the old pitched roof, clarifying the roofline and making room for large ribbon windows without raising the overall height of the house. The new roof is made of steel I-beams; the windows fill the interior with light from above, reviving the space with dramatic shadows. The new openings give the client a new view that had never been possible before: the Hollywood Sign, a landmark of the surrounding area
In California, at Mar Vista Residence, the rational approach of mid-century modernism blends with warm finishes and contemporary architectural ideas
For the Mar Vista Residence project, TGA upgrades and expands its client's modest home by amplifying its positive features and addressing the frustrations that its owner has experienced over the thirty years he has lived there. The redesign preserves the bones of the existing structure, but transforms it from a cramped, dark and outdated space into an open, sunlit home infused with a contemporary personality
The new structure designed by TGA also adds a new glass and steel structure to what was once a small, little-used lawn in front of the house. The addition balances the living space, while completing a garage that extends awkwardly from the main structure. It contains a home office, a new bedroom, two bathrooms and a laundry room.
Together, the new building and garage frame a terraced rock garden inspired by Karesansui, the traditional Japanese gardens designed to be contemplated from a single viewpoint. Here, the rock garden is dominated by the home office
The new design successfully relates to the restrictions of the existing interior, while maintaining some of the fixed elements such as the fireplace and perimeter walls, but reinventing the spatial flow in order to offer expansive, open living spaces: the entrance door now leads into a large space overlooking the terrace at the back. This is where the project's biggest challenge takes place: the existing fireplace, impossible to move due to California rules prohibiting new wood-burning fireplaces in residential projects, becomes a spatial obstacle, a sculptural element which arranges movement around itself, recalling mid-century interiors designed by architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright
The interior of the Mar Vista Residence blends the rational approach of mid-century modernism with warm finishes such as the maple furniture and doors. The kitchen features custom-designed built-in shelving, providing ample pantry space while not taking up space. The selection of mid-century furniture is complemented by the client's collection of antique radios
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