Regional Modern: L.A. Coast Homes Soak in the View

This Regional Modern Excursion of Home architecture in the United States ends overlooking the Pacific Ocean. These houses in and around Los Angeles can be seen as a summation of the show, which often dealt with the forming of type towards important views. The setting sun over the expansive Pacific is as clear a view as any.

Views can be viewed (cynically) as a way to optimize value by orienting a house towards what is amazing, editing out the unsightly. But letting views dictate a house’s form can also be interpreted as a way to connect us with a bigger context, be it natural, individual, or a combo of both. Our houses would be our oases, however they are part of a bigger landscape we all share. Views make us aware of this and, I expect, make us responsible citizens of the planet.

Dean Nota Architect

Venice is a part of L.A. famous for its beach and boardwalk overlooking the Pacific. This roughly mile-long strip creates a exceptional backdrop for houses attempting to catch the ocean views. This house by Dean Nota faces west with a sloping glass wall and profound terraces that let the residents like the setting sun — and the series on the boardwalk — while outdoors.

Dean Nota Architect

This dusk view of the same Venice Beach house exemplifies something special: The best balcony juts inside into a double-height living room. Beyond the balcony we can see a stair for accessing the top outside area; a bridge connects it to the kitchen beyond.

Dean Nota Architect

An opinion from the living area of the Venice Beach house shows the sand and water, the main reason behind the glass and balconies.

Dean Nota Architect

A glance in the rear of the Venice Beach house reveals the duality of the plan. Even though the west side remains open, the east side is almost totally closed off.

Horst Architects

Laguna Beach, a small community south and east of Los Angeles, is marked by a landscape that rises from the ocean to the San Joaquin Hills. This scenario guarantees that a lot of people have Pacific views, even when removed from the coastline. The rugged landscape of this house makes this scenario clear. At the rear of the house…

Horst Architects

…a generous deck plus some big expanses of glass orient the L-shaped house towards the Pacific. The left portion of the house is treated just like an abstract article, with different window sizes and orientations across the flat facade.

Kanner Architects – CLOSED

Stephen Kanner Architects accounts for a number of houses in Malibu, a beachfront neighborhood north and west of L.A. known to people outside California since the setting for Two and a Half Men. Their designs come in a variety of shapes and sizes, however they all throw themselves towards the prized Pacific views. Here we visit a very long house with a large patio (with stone garden, an interesting touch) plus a sizable patio upstairs.

Kanner Architects – CLOSED

Farther down the same house is a courtyard carved into the rectangular plan. Behind is expansive glass whose reasoning is best appreciated from interior (adjacent ).

Kanner Architects – CLOSED

The wall that is opened for the courtyard perfectly frames a difference in the hills between the house and the ocean. This framing elevates the experience of moving from one part of their house to another.

Kanner Architects – CLOSED

In a different Kanner Malibu production, the flat lines of the house point to the west and the ocean. Although this side is fairly solid, with a few punched openings, the railing and sunshade on the right hint in others side of the house (adjacent ).

Kanner Architects – CLOSED

This side of the L-shaped house opens towards the ocean. This shape also helps enclose the outside pool area, which provides access to the northwest through some stairs.

Kanner Architects – CLOSED

A third and last Kanner Malibu house works much differently than others, because prized views happen on each side of the house. The house is raised above the garage and turned to offer views of the mountains.

Kanner Architects – CLOSED

On peak of the steps in the garage level, we can see why the house offers expansive glass in this direction. The mountains are a pleasing contrast with the ocean view reverse (adjacent ).

Kanner Architects – CLOSED

Lots of glass opens up the house towards the Pacific, a serene view of blue .

Griffin Enright Architects

This previous house is a sculptural number that hints at the ocean views. Note the scalloped segment on the right; this is caused by windows peeling off in the facade to catch views of water.

Griffin Enright Architects

Looking at the rear of the same house, one of the”peels” is evident at the curving corner that then meets up with flat timber bands, echoed below too. These display part of the house from the sun and give a solid horizontality to this side.

Griffin Enright Architects

Another view of the house shows the wood bands acting as railings for a sizable terrace upstairs. Downstairs is a lap pool and deck, all overlooking the ocean.

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