a series of cantilevered beams and slender posts compose cano house above los angeles

perched above los angeles, cano house reinterprets the iconic hillside homes of the mid-century era, where panoramic views become an integral part of the architectural experience.

DIEGOCANOLASSO edited by christina vergopoulou June 2, 2026 4 min

Diego Cano Lasso reinterprets mid-century post-and-beam houses

Cano House by Diego Cano Lasso is a contemporary reinterpretation of mid-century post-and-beam architecture in Los Angeles, California. The goal was to create a lightweight structure that cantilevers over the hillside and extends toward the city. The result is a sequence of slender steel posts supporting 42-foot-long wooden beams that appear to project beyond the house toward the horizon. The enclosure consists of continuous glazing with pivot doors that frame and reflect different views of the city as they open and close. The house is embedded into the hillside, requiring the excavation and removal of more than 50 truckloads of earth. Its light structure and dramatic cantilever help blend the architecture into the landscape, minimizing its visual impact on the site. The structural lightness of the house recalls a defining characteristic of mid-century architecture, an approach that, while once common, is rarely pursued in contemporary residential construction.

a series of cantilevered beams and slender posts compose cano house above los angeles - 1 — Spanish wooden shutters protect Cano House from the west sun | all images by Iwan Baan unless stated otherwise

Zellige Murals and Repurposed Materials Define Cano House

Construction was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. When work resumed, labor shortages and increased material costs had transformed the construction landscape, prompting the team at Diego Cano Lasso to develop creative self-building solutions. The side elevations are the only solid facades and are clad with zellige tile murals designed and built by Doctor Cato (Alejandro Cano). Ceramic gutters imported from Spain were repurposed, with some sections transformed into custom lampshades. Door handles were crafted from stones collected on the beaches of Southern California, while ceiling lamps were sourced from the Spanish lighting studio Luz Mixtura. Boulders uncovered during excavation were brought into the house and repurposed as coffee tables, further connecting the architecture to its site. Doctor Cato also designed and built numerous furniture pieces inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and R.M. Schindler.

a series of cantilevered beams and slender posts compose cano house above los angeles - 2 — forty-two-foot cantilevered glulam beams extend toward the city skyline

a series of cantilevered beams and slender posts compose cano house above los angeles - 3 — Cano House reinterprets mid-century post-and-beam architecture on a Los Angeles hillside

a series of cantilevered beams and slender posts compose cano house above los angeles - 4 — the outdoor terrace features repurposed ceramic gutters and downspouts from Spain

a series of cantilevered beams and slender posts compose cano house above los angeles - 5 — custom red handrail accentuates the staircase along the shou sugi ban facade

a series of cantilevered beams and slender posts compose cano house above los angeles - 6 — Zellige tiles mural by Doctor Cato clad the home’s enclosed exterior walls

a series of cantilevered beams and slender posts compose cano house above los angeles - 7 — yellow Kitchen made of Abet Laminati anchors the common area

cano-house-diego-cano-lasso-mid-century-post-and-beam-architecture-los-angeles-designboom-1800-2 — the design references principles of mid-century California modernism | image by Open Space

a series of cantilevered beams and slender posts compose cano house above los angeles - 8 — in the living room, site boulders are reintroduced as custom coffee tables

cano-house-diego-cano-lasso-mid-century-post-and-beam-architecture-los-angeles-designboom-1800-3 — a chaise lounge by Andrew Riiska decorates the living room area

a series of cantilevered beams and slender posts compose cano house above los angeles - 9 — lower-level office and lounge with wooden ceilings evolved from a Frank Lloyd Wright design

cano-house-diego-cano-lasso-mid-century-post-and-beam-architecture-los-angeles-designboom-1800-4 — continuous glazing frames panoramic views across Los Angeles | image by Open Space

a series of cantilevered beams and slender posts compose cano house above los angeles - 10 — Zellige tiles mural in dialogue with the hillside landscape and sunset

a series of cantilevered beams and slender posts compose cano house above los angeles - 11 — structural lightness defines the architectural expression of the residence

a series of cantilevered beams and slender posts compose cano house above los angeles - 12 — lighting by Luz Mixtura complements the handcrafted interior elements | image by Open Space

project info:

name: Cano House
architect: Diego Cano Lasso | @diegocanolasso

location: Los Angeles, California, US

murals: Alejandro Cano | @doctorcato

photographer: Iwan Baan | @iwanbaan, Open Space

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