House Stepping Down A Hill

Three primary materials—board-formed concrete, prefabricated trusses, and 80-millimeter PVC industrial roofing—come together in a structural scheme featuring prefabricated trusses that span between steel beams to create multiple ceiling forms throughout the open living room pavilion. Working with Bestor Architects, NOUS developed a symbiosis between structure and architecture that allows this central space to remain free of supporting elements so that it can open toward views of the ocean, the reservoir, and the mountains; lateral loads are transferred to the more private zones at the perimeter of the plan. The PVC roll roofing wraps the entire overhead plane as well as its vertical surfaces and reflects light—a low-cost protective solution in a high-fire zone. Notched into the front courtyard, a pool integrates into the building foundations on the sloping lot, completing the melding of structure and architectural form. 

Location
Los Angeles, CA USA

Client
Private

Architect
Bestor Architects

Staff Lead
Elizabeth Mahlow, PE

Completed
2021

Size
3,740 SF

Photography
Bruce Damonte

Recognition

AIA Residential Architecture Award