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Abramson Architects

Abramson Architects

Los Angeles, CA

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Situated on a promontory jutting into the canyon below, the hillside retreat boasts multiple vistas of the surrounding canyon and the Pacific Ocean beyond. (Roger Davies Photography)
Situated on a promontory jutting into the canyon below, the hillside retreat boasts multiple vistas of the surrounding canyon and the Pacific Ocean beyond. (Roger Davies Photography)
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Sapire Residence

Organic Materials Layered in the Mountains

An entrepreneur and family with a passion for healthy living requested a large, but informal, home woven into the topography of their dramatically sloping 2-acre site. Since covenants and restrictions allowed for only a single story above street level, many of the home’s rooms are located on a lower level which daylight on the downslope side of the house. A stepped roof plan reduces the 17,000 sqft home’s perceived mass, creating the illusion of several interconnected structures. The thoughtful layout helps to preserve their neighbor’s views to the Santa Monica Mountains and Pacific Ocean.

Minimal in form, the Pacific Palisades home’s open floorplan integrates the promontory point’s spectacular views into the design. With wildfires increasing in frequency and intensity, non-combustible and ignition resistant materials such as concrete and steel were selected as primary building materials. Meticulous craftsmanship is exemplified by the combination of board-form concrete, rift oak siding, sustainably harvested old growth French Oak flooring, as well as painted galvanized steel doors and windows. Pebble and stone surfaces further embrace the nearby mountains resulting in material palette that is modern, yet warm. Steps and landscape pathways provide access to distant parts of the steep site and their uninterrupted coastal views.

 
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Status: Built
Location: Pacific Palisades, CA, US
Firm Role: Architect
Additional Credits: CONTRACTOR: AJ Engineering, Andrew Jagoda, ajagoda@sbcglobal.net
INTERIOR DESIGN: Clements Design, Kathleen Clements, info@clementsdesign.com
LIGHTING: Esquared Lighting Design, Erin Erdman, erin@esquaredlighting.com
LANDSCAPE: Pamela Burton & Co, Robin Carmichael, rcarmichael@pamelaburtonco.com
CIVIL ENGINEER: John M. Cruikshank Consultants, John M. Cruikshank, jcruikshank@jmc-2.com
MECHANICAL & PLUMBING: California Energy Designs, Gabriel Gagnon, gabriel2@californiaenergydesigns.com
ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT: VRG, Glen Vaughn, gvaughn@vrginc.net
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Sigma Design, Hovik Khanjian, sigmadsgn@aol.com
LOW VOLTAGE: Audio Command Systems, Paul Sleutjes, psleutjes@acs-west.com
STEEL SKYLIGHT INSTALLATION: Rollamatic, Dan Roberts, danielroberts@rollamatic.com
CABINETRY: Swiss Woodworking, Nicola Ganzoni, nick@swisswoodworking.com
STONEWORK (Interior): Elegant Marble, Daniel Pastori, danpasto@aol.com
MILLWORKS: Millworks by Design, Dan Parrish, dan@millworksbydesign.com
FIREPLACE ART: William Befort, Bill@decfabricators.com
HARDWARE: Beth Morris Puno, beth@vancronenburg.be
CONCRETE SUB: Donald Scheffler, dscheffler@donaldjscheffler.com
WATERPROOFING: Ron Kazemi, ron@kazemiwaterproofing.com
HEATERS: Infratech, John A. Mazzotta, sales@infratech-usa.com

 
Many of the home’s rooms are located on a lower level which daylights onto the downslope side of the house. This modest massing arrangement allows for neighboring properties to see over the roof of the home. (Roger Davies Photography)
Many of the home’s rooms are located on a lower level which daylights onto the downslope side of the house. This modest massing arrangement allows for neighboring properties to see over the roof of the home. (Roger Davies Photography)
In three distinct locations, landscaped topography “fingers” heighten one’s awareness of the natural hillside. Bridges span over these fingers, enhancing and extending the natural graded areas deep into the heart of the home.
In three distinct locations, landscaped topography “fingers” heighten one’s awareness of the natural hillside. Bridges span over these fingers, enhancing and extending the natural graded areas deep into the heart of the home.
The home's bridges offer new perspectives for experiencing the owner’s prized views while providing a glimpse of the topography as it stood before the house was set upon it. (Roger Davies Photography)
The home's bridges offer new perspectives for experiencing the owner’s prized views while providing a glimpse of the topography as it stood before the house was set upon it. (Roger Davies Photography)
Meticulous craftsmanship and authentic building materials are recurring themes best exemplified by the widespread use of board-formed concrete walls, white oak shiplap wall cladding, and painted galvanized steel doors and windows. (Roger Davies Photography)
Meticulous craftsmanship and authentic building materials are recurring themes best exemplified by the widespread use of board-formed concrete walls, white oak shiplap wall cladding, and painted galvanized steel doors and windows. (Roger Davies Photography)
Pebble and stone surfaces further embrace the nearby mountains resulting in material palette that is modern, yet warm. (Roger Davies Photography)
Pebble and stone surfaces further embrace the nearby mountains resulting in material palette that is modern, yet warm. (Roger Davies Photography)
Operable walls pull abundant daylighting deep into the common spaces. A custom screen system can be deployed to counteract strong coastal wind patterns or mitigate afternoon heat gain. When not in use, the six perforated metal panels stack in sets of three against two concrete columns maintaining the home’s contemporary aesthetic. (Roger Davies Photography)
Operable walls pull abundant daylighting deep into the common spaces. A custom screen system can be deployed to counteract strong coastal wind patterns or mitigate afternoon heat gain. When not in use, the six perforated metal panels stack in sets of three against two concrete columns maintaining the home’s contemporary aesthetic. (Roger Davies Photography)
Steps and landscape pathways provide access to distant parts of the steep site and their uninterrupted coastal views. (Roger Davies Photography)
Steps and landscape pathways provide access to distant parts of the steep site and their uninterrupted coastal views. (Roger Davies Photography)
Minimal in form, the layered design respects the home’s surroundings, catering to the entrepreneurial homeowners’ need as both a full-time residence and part-time wellness retreat. The show garage, shown here, doubles as an open-air yoga studio. (Roger Davies Photography)
Minimal in form, the layered design respects the home’s surroundings, catering to the entrepreneurial homeowners’ need as both a full-time residence and part-time wellness retreat. The show garage, shown here, doubles as an open-air yoga studio. (Roger Davies Photography)
Use of material is central to the design philosophy. The surrounding landscape is reflected in the home through various types of wood. (Roger Davies Photography)
Use of material is central to the design philosophy. The surrounding landscape is reflected in the home through various types of wood. (Roger Davies Photography)
With a spectacular view of the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the Sapire Residence is opened up for a fresh sea breeze and panoramic views. (Roger Davies Photography)
With a spectacular view of the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the Sapire Residence is opened up for a fresh sea breeze and panoramic views. (Roger Davies Photography)