Venice Beach House

Situated in Los Angeles’ coastal Venice neighborhood, the design for this new residence began with its exterior 3 ‘gardens,’ which meld the indoor-outdoor spaces together among varying volumes and allow places of comfort to enjoy the year-round temperate climate. The scale of the gardens is varied; one larger garden creates drama, while two smaller gardens allow for intimacy and moments of pause. Almost every space is connected with a sister outdoor space to further blur the distinction between in and out. A series of parallel datum walls constructed of concrete blocks anchor the gardens and organize the interior spaces around the exterior space. The materiality of the concrete block walls evoke a sense of heaviness and provides a visual, monolithic mass between floors while anchoring the horizontal planes of the home in the landscape. Wood siding wraps the perimeter and sits atop the massive walls, lifting and lightening the massing. Full height sliding glass doors open the main living space to the exterior, while the exterior gardens punctuate the interior spaces, extending sight-lines and bringing in ample natural light. Roll-down Lutron shades custom designed by Montabla Architects manage natural light throughout the home for optimal exposure and privacy.

Design: Montalba Architects
Contractor: Sarlan Builders
Photographer: Kevin Scott