Every year the editors of Dwell magazine organize Dwell on Design, an annual modern design event showcasing new design ideas, products, and services in conjunction with world-class design speakers, exhibitions & home tours. This three-day exhibition will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center June 21-23, 2013.
One of the event’s most intriguing elements will be the West Side Home Tour. The self-driven tour through Los Angeles’ West Side takes place on Saturday June 22, from 10am-4pm. Take as much time as you please walking through and admiring each unique home, specially selected by Dwell to reflect the rich diversity of livable, innovative modern architecture and design found throughout Los Angeles.
This year’s West Side Home Tour will feature five architecturally diverse residences, each with their own compelling elements. Read on to find out more about each property.
Wong Residence & Studio
Beverly Hills–based architect Paul Murdoch organized this house for painter Diana Wong around a double-height central studio. The emphasis on light and open space helps inspire Wong’s works, which are displayed throughout the house with her collection of Chinese antique furniture. “The architecture serves not only as a backdrop to support the artist’s activity but attempts to complement her personal expression through simple, elemental forms,” says Murdoch.
The studio is designed to be versatile, serving as a private work space, a gallery for exhibiting artwork, and as a music and dance performance space. The architect introduced unique artistic solutions for Wong, such as large sliding panels for the storage of paintings.
Area: Santa Monica, CA
Livable square footage: 5,500 sq. ft
Number of bedrooms: There are two residential units, one with two bedrooms for the owner and the other for her daughter with one bedroom.
Construction completed: 2003
Dwell Home Venice
When architectural designer Sebastian Mariscal first visited the site that would hold his eventual design for resident Michael Sylvester, he was immediately struck by the presence of the huge pine tree in the middle. “I was moved by how the grown trees were creating a special silence of green within the dense and eclectic neighborhood,” says Mariscal. “I remember the first thing that came to my mind was that I must preserve the same view, meaning my design cannot be seen from the street—only trees, only green.” He responded by crafting a series of pavilions connected by what he calls “vegetated outdoor rooms” for the transition spaces.
Area: Venice Beach, CA
Livable square footage: 2,400 sq. ft.
Number of bedrooms: 3
Construction completed: 2013
Las Tunas
The Gould residence is a major cosmetic remodel of one side of an existing duplex located on the coast in Malibu. Due to constraints from both the city and the neighboring unit, very little change was made to the building’s architecture. Our scope of work gave the building new life and a clean and open feeling through the use of material, color, texture and furniture.
Area: Malibu, CA
Livable square footage: 2,785 sq. ft
Number of bedrooms: 4
Construction completed: remodel 2012, original house mid ’80s
Garten + Reid Residence
This artist/architect designed gem was featured in the Wall St. Journal is a must see for those interested in the design of a live/work, home and studio with gardens. The architect, Molly Reid, well known for the simple generosity of her many home designs, designed the house and studio where she and her husband, the internationally recognized sculptor Cliff Garten reside with their daughter Rhea. The home environment is collaboration between the artist and architect to suit a lifestyle where creative work flows with everyday household activity. The compound is designed as a series of four spaces: the front garden room, the redesigned house, the rear garden room and the garage/studio with alley access. This program provides connection between architecture and landscape allowing for outdoor/ indoor living, and the work and play of family life. The artist’s granite fountain under a wisteria arbor at the edge of the studio uses landscape grasses to connect back to a fire pit at the homes generous back deck, replete with large sliding mahogany doors, opening to the living room. The original property of a 1940’s bungalow with a 1969 addition has been cleverly redesigned by the architect without changing the original home foot print. Complementing the architect’s elegant renovation a semi-transparent sculpture wall by the artist allows separation and connection between the architect’s generous and modern kitchen and elegant and vibrantly colored dining and living room area.
Area: Venice, CA
Livable square footage: 2,500 sq. ft
Number of bedrooms: 3
Construction completed: Remodel and Landscaping completed in 2009
Mazess House
In order to preserve the current building setbacks the city code required 50% of the exiting building to be preserved while the remaining 50% is allowed to be demolished. Existing building walls and foundation were encased in the new construction, while the new portion of the building is constructed entirely of concrete block. A masonry wall running through the house marks the two halves. The residence, built in 1996, is divided into two zones with public spaces on the first floor and private spaces including bedrooms and bathrooms on the second floor. A roof deck takes advantage of ocean views to the west and the Santa Monica Mountains to the north. Large expanses of glass take full advantage of views, passive solar conditions and connect exterior spaces with the interior. The new building finished in 2004, consists of a living studio, garage and below grade recording studio. It is separated by an exterior landscape and patio space.
Area: Santa Monica, CA
Livable square footage: 3,785 sq. ft
Number of bedrooms: 3 bedrooms and 1 detached studio
Construction completed: Original House: 1910 1st Remodel: 1996 2nd Remodel: 2004
Phillip Braunstein is one of the top producing real estate agents in L.A., especially in the architecture/estates niche, which has become his forte. If you are considering buying or selling property contact Phillip.