in a residential neighborhood of southern california, the los angeles design group (LADG) has transformed a ‘hermetically sealed box’ into a light-filled home that takes many of its design cues from marcel breuer’s former whitney museum in new york. located in silver lake, los angeles, the ‘armstrong avenue residence’ offers its occupants 1,894 square feet of space across its three levels.

stepped cedar-clad home by the LADG references breuer's former whitney museum
all images by nathaniel riley

 

 

referencing breuer’s iconic manhattan building, which now forms part of the metropolitan museum of art, the LADG has cantilevered the property in three steps, bringing a sense of enclosure to the yard at the rear of the site. breuer’s influence is also seen in two of the house’s angular windows. the first opening is a torqued cut­out in the front façade, which presents views of the silver lake reservoir from the master bedroom. the second window juts out into the backyard, framing the hillside.

stepped cedar-clad home by the LADG references breuer's former whitney museum
the home takes many of its design cues from marcel breuer’s former whitney museum in new york

 

 

internally, an unusual split ­level configuration results in two floors at the front and two floors at the rear. the lower levels contain bedrooms, bathrooms, and a study, while the newly constructed upper story has been conceived as a wide open plinth that sits atop the entire building. here, the home’s main living accommodation, including the kitchen, spills out onto a terrace with elevated views.

los angeles design group
the building has been predominantly clad with charred cedar wood

los angeles design group
living accommodation spills out onto a terrace with elevated views

los angeles design group
a window juts out into the backyard, framing the hillside

los angeles design group
a torqued cut­out in the front façade presents views of the silver lake reservoir

stepped cedar-clad home by the LADG references breuer's former whitney museum
natural timber has been used to emphasize the cuts made into an otherwise solid monolith

 

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los angeles design group armstrong avenue residence los angeles california designboom
 
los angeles design group armstrong avenue residence los angeles california designboom
 
los angeles design group armstrong avenue residence los angeles california designboom
 
los angeles design group armstrong avenue residence los angeles california designboom
 

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