AIA LA Residential Merit Award, 2019

Stack House is a new ground up residence on a steeply sloped lot in northeast Los Angeles. Comprised of a loose stack of boxes notched into the hillside, this vertical house uses subtle rotation and shifting of each room to create outdoor spaces. With each offset the adjacent roof becomes a balcony, expanding interior spaces to the exterior at every floor. These indoor-outdoor spaces have varied orientations with unique and unobstructed views to the San Gabriel mountains.

The primary living space at the third level (dining, kitchen, living, den) is organized into a simple four square grid. As the rooms rotate, one corner is removed and they are knitted together by a series of tangent arcs. The curves blend spaces while carefully opening views through the house. At the center is the stair, which arcs up half a flight and connects the living space to a rear dining patio and yard beyond that overlooks the house and mountains beyond. Three bedrooms are located on the 4th level with the master suite organized across the front of the house. On the second level is a flexible space with full bathroom. Provided with a separate entry, the homeowner may use this as an office, fourth bedroom or a suite for a possible tenant.

The exterior cladding of the house is a play on board and batten siding organized into patterns that suggest varied depth, alternating between vertical texture and exaggerated frames. Subtle differences in paint color from white to gray engage in shadow play throughout the day. Natural finish wide plank pine flooring and marble tops fill the interior with texture and warmth. Large accordion doors pocket to extend the living and master bedroom to exterior balconies. Sustainability and smart home features were thoughtfully considered and incorporated into the design.

Working with difficult site constraints is central to the design of this house. While hillside homes frequently perch on hillsides, this house is embedded into it, balancing an ease of indoor-outdoor living with the iconic views unique to hillside living in Los Angeles.