An Edgy Edge Property, Manhattan Beach Villa, Los Angeles Project, Californian Architecture, Images

An Edgy Edge Property in Manhattan Beach

Apr 11, 2021

An Edgy Edge Property

Design: Abramson Architects

Location: Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Transitioning from a large home in the Calabasas hills to Manhattan Beach’s densely populated Tree Section, our clients purchased a dilapidated 1,100 sq ft home bordering a highly commercial zone.

Having visited Abramson Architects’ Lima House in Calabasas they knew they wanted a similar aesthetic. However, the young family also needed to stay within a reasonable budget while creating a custom home to fit their compact lot. Working together with the couple, the designers created a scheme for their Edgy Edge Property that ticked all the boxes.

What were the key challenges and solutions?
The design team needed to leverage the challenging site to their advantage. The selected scheme uses the existing commercial building’s boundary walls, located to the South, to create a privacy and sound barrier from the lively business corridor beyond.

Placing the garage and other areas not requiring direct daylighting against the home’s split level south wall and installing clerestory windows above allows natural sun to penetrate deep into living spaces without sacrificing privacy.

The tandem garage configuration also allows for more living spaces facing the street and a less prominent garage for better curb appeal.

What is the flow of the common spaces?
A welcoming front patio connects to an interior entry lounge/sitting room via a set of operable full height window-walls.

The interstitial space is adjacent to the couple’s home office and includes a modern bar for entertaining guests or clients. The wife is a Serbian-born blues singer/songwriter and the husband makes living as a booking agent, so it only makes sense that their workspace features a custom desk with a built-in Fender guitar.

A bold red bookcase echoes the accent colors from the sitting room and draws visitors deeper into the home. The designer kitchen and minimalist living area connect to the backyard and built-in pool, allowing the family to enjoy the region’s moderate coastal climate year-round. A 2-sided fireplace is visible from both the exterior backyard patio or the interior family room.

Was the brief accomplished?
The home’s contextually-driven urban response is tailor-made for the young family and their narrow lot. The amenity-rich design provides the sense of connectivity with their community they were missing in their previous oversized dwelling.