daly genik architects: palms house

‘palms house’ by daly genik architects in venice, USA all images courtesy daly genik architects image © benny chan / fotoworks

‘palms house’ by santa monica-based practice daly genik architects is a two-storey private residence with a guest house in venice, california. featuring a lush courtyard at its centre, the renovation project seeks to provide abundant shared space for the client’s growing family as well as to accommodate frequently visiting in-laws in an arrangement that promotes an appropriate level of privacy.

main house from courtyard image © jason schmidt

placing the garage and apartment at the street side with the main house situated at the rear of the site, the design is a reversal of the more common relationship between the main and guest house found in the area. the house features an unassuming facade in its approach which dramatically unfolds to expose a dynamic skin of perforated metal that is supported by an aluminum exoskeleton. seemingly pushing and pulling the forms of the two structures towards the central courtyard, a direct dialogue is achieved between the guest apartment and main house while providing shade for the glazed two-storey facades. 

guest house from courtyard image © jason schmidt

on the second level, the interstitial space between the skin and the structures accommodate asymmetrical outdoor terraces. overlooking the courtyard in between, the balconies provide visual connections between the family members through geometrically-shaped openings. the interior benefits from filtered sunlight while gaining a varying amounts of privacy.

aluminum exoskeleton image © benny chan / fotoworks

deck space of guest house image © jason schmidt

interior view image © benny chan / fotoworks

dining space image © jason schmidt

image © benny chan / fotoworks

patio image © benny chan / fotoworks

(left) perforated skin from bedroom (right) balcony space off of bedroom images © jason schmidt

balcony space image © benny chan / fotoworks

view through perforated skin image © benny chan / fotoworks

street facade image © jason schmidt

floor plan / level 0 (1) patio    (2) study (3) kitchen (4) living (5) garage (6) bedroom (7) master bedroom (8) guest apartment

floor plan / level +1 (1) patio    (2) study (3) kitchen (4) living (5) garage (6) bedroom (7) master bedroom (8) guest apartment

axonometric – guest house

facade pieces – guest house

axonometric – main house

facade pieces – main house

project info:

team: kevin daly, gretchen stoecker, kody kellogg landscape: polly furr (venice) structural engineer: gilsanz murray steficek (los angeles) energy/title 24: energy code works (irvine) contractor: carlos grande, CA construction (los angeles)