Cover The sunken living room with afforded views of the sunset
The sunken living room with afforded views of the sunset
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Montalba Architects blends California modernism with Japanese aesthetics, offering moments of environmental reprieve in Beverly Hills, California
Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains in Beverly Hills, California, Trousdale Estates is one of the most expensive neighbourhoods in the country, coveted among celebrities past and present, such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Jennifer Aniston, Elton John, Vera Wang and more.
One of the latest residents residing in the neighbourhood is a homeowner of Japanese origins, who predominantly lives in Northern California, and engaged Montalba Architects to design her second residence along Carla Ridge, overlooking the Franklin Canyon Mountains, and expanding the cityscape beyond.
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A series of internal and external garden courtyards surround the home
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“We’re lucky to have a network of repeat clients, and a former client’s recommendation led to this natural fit with the homeowner,” recalls David Montalba, founder of the international architecture practice.
“We found throughout the process that we’re aligned in more ways than one when it comes to design and also how we aspire to live and experience spaces,” he adds.
“Over our shared captivation with the site–its unique position on the hills overlooking the western edge of the Los Angeles Mountains, we want to capture the spirit of the place, anchoring you in its space and leaving you with an everlasting sense of peacefulness.”
See also: Home tour: A modern minimalist villa nestled in the mountains of Transcaucasia
Above The large, focal vessel in the entryway grounds the space and sets the tone for the home's design narrative
The large, focal vessel in the entryway grounds the space and sets the tone for the home's design narrative
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Spanning 7,000 sq ft, the single-storey residence with four bedrooms and four-and-a-half baths is envisioned to “provide a much-needed reprise from the hectic Los Angeles lifestyle and celebrate the idea of peacefulness and recovery, bringing a sense of warmth, texture, and expansion to one’s time in the home,” muses Montalba, whose portfolio also includes hospitality heavyweights like Nobu Ryokan Malibu and The Row Los Angeles.
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In an effort to take advantage of the unique Southern California climate, and the home’s unique position facing westward towards the sunset, Montalba crafted a contemporary build that combines California modernism with Japanese elements, bringing together the two places that have influenced the client’s lifestyle.
The design features overlapping horizontal rooflines and extended overhangs that expand the interior spatial volumes, while a higher roof “propped up” with clerestory windows allows more natural light into the core of the building.
Above The sunken living room that takes advantage of the sunset view
The sunken living room that takes advantage of the sunset view
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“The neighbourhood itself is highly regulated when it comes to design; no structure is allowed over 14 feet in height, alongside many restraints to setbacks and site conditions,” Montalba recalls.
“To compound the ceiling limitations, the great majority of the utilities, duct and piping are subterranean rather than in the ceiling or roof, allowing us to take full advantage of the predetermined 14 feet throughout the home,” he shares.
“Also, the floor levels in the great room, living room, and primary bedroom are sunken, while all additional spaces within the home are elevated by a foot with 13-foot ceilings.”
Read more: Home tour: Herschel Supply co-founder’s mod-rustic mountain cabin in Canada
Rough-hewn venetian plaster finish in a very soft, natural palette on the walls
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A series of internal and external garden courtyards surround the home, providing extensive connections to and from the gardens and the adjacent landscape, while also infusing the home with natural light, as the spatial layout transitions between the more public and more private zones.
“We thought a lot about the concept of procession–how one is guided through a space with unperceived but deliberate design choices,” explains the Swiss-American architect.
“We played with variations of scale in the home, the idea of walkways being compressed, leading out to the expansive view [at the rear] that envelopes the home, and referenced in a scaled manner through the integrated courtyards.”
See also: 5 profound Japanese design principles that are very demure and very mindful
Above The dining room in the central great room
The dining room in the central great room
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In the entryway, a large, focal vessel made with soil from the site by local ceramicist Caroline Blackburn grounds the space and sets the tone for the whole project.
“It was inspired by a vase we love at Kappa Masa in New York City, which anchors your arrival to the restaurant,” Montalba elaborates. “In this case, it anchors the arrival to the entry, and provides a powerful focal point and transition to the main living space.”
Both welcoming and setting a ceremonial moment into the home, the expansions of space lead into the central great room comprising the dining room and the sunken living room with framed views of the hillside, valley and city skyline.
Don’t miss: Home tour: A colourful family ski retreat in Quebec’s idyllic Charlevoix region
Above The expansive kitchen area with warmer wood tones
The expansive kitchen area with warmer wood tones
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Here, the home diverges effortlessly: on one side, the more public spaces like the kitchen, living room and garage, while on the other side, the guest room, flex room and primary suite.
Several outdoor living spaces also maximise the afforded rear views: a curved pool, and an island of planting that creates privacy between the primary suite deck and the rest of the rear yard.
Read more: Tips from Michelin-starred Chef Raymond Tham on how to choose the right kitchen countertop
Above The primary suite maximises on the afforded rear views
The primary suite maximises on the afforded rear views
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Complementing the serene courtyards and matching the overarching Japanese influence of the home, custom millwork and furniture create subtle warmth and movement throughout the expansive spaces.
Inspired by organic materials and texture, wanting the feel of the home and its materials to have unpolished elements, the design team implemented a unique rough-hewn Venetian plaster finish in a very soft, natural palette on the walls.
See also: Home tour: An award-winning six-storey Kuala Lumpur home integrated with nature
The curved pool at the rear of the home
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Meanwhile, a brushed limestone finished flooring permeates the home, accented by warmer wood tones; whereas furniture with clean, modern lines serves as neutral backdrops for the homeowner’s art collection to take on more of the pops of colour.
“I think as with many of our homes there can be a rather hard-edged modernism to the spaces, and we often find it important to balance these with warmer materials, landscape, and furnishings,” Montalba concludes.
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Photography: Kevin Scott
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Celeste Goh is a senior writer covering architecture and design. Based in Malaysia, she reports on emerging architectural and home design trends, as well as insights by local and international architects and interior designers.
Previously, she covered men’s lifestyle, fashion, music and entertainment.
