This three-story, 3250-square-foot West LA Residence is a second-unit addition for a writer and her partner. 

It is situated in West LA near Sawtelle Boulevard on a long narrow duplex lot two doors down from an early house by Frank Gehry.  

This fully electric, solar-powered house is part of a multi-generational, blended family compound, providing shared cooking, eating, exercise, and relaxation spaces. Making food, recycling waste, vegetable gardening, and caring for four-legged friends will be part of the day-to-day life of the compound.

The three-level structure is designed as a “house without corridors,” taking some cues from the traditional Korean hanok and a host of Southern Californian houses. 

The lowest level is for entertaining, the middle tier is for working, exercising, and guest rooms and the top master level is for relaxation and sleeping. The center point of the house is a three-story high circulation element comprised of U-shaped stairs wrapping a two-person elevator. The elevator anticipates aging in place.

The green-black stucco and bright white corrugated steel cladding are denotative. The stucco clads the public and shared circulation while the corrugated steel wraps the more private zones.  

Electrical meters, solar batteries, rainwater tanks, and a heat pump are ganged at the rear of the house in a compact service zone. Vertical exterior housed HVAC supply and return is expressed and contained in a white metal duct housing.

The residence is the first free-standing home designed and built by Peter Martinez Zellner, acting as the builder on the project.

BUILDING DESIGN: Officina Martinez Zellner: Peter Martinez Zellner with Paula Carillo, Maria Jose Cayon, Juan Ignacio Garcia, Maria Paz Laprovitta and Juan Pablo Maisonneuve. 

INTERIOR & LIGHTING DESIGN: Hyun Mi Oh, Peter Martinez Zellner with Erik Runner (Color Consultant)

LANDSCAPE DESIGN:  Hyun Mi Oh, Peter Martinez Zellner with Juan Pablo Maisonneuve. 

CONSTRUCTION: Peter Martinez Zellner with David Hernandez 

ENGINEERING: KFSE

SUSTAINABILITY: CEG