PROJECT INFO
Scope: New Duplex
Location: City of West Hollywood
Size: 2,300 sf
Status: Finished Construction
Los Angeles Residential Design Award
PROJECT description:
The design foregrounds the aesthetic value of the architectural object itself, positioning it as an intrinsic entity rather than merely a neutral container for human activity. This perspective is rooted in the generative potential of design—its capacity to enact meaningful social and economic transformation.
Fundamental to the concept is the application of both quantitative and qualitative parametric variables contextualized within the site. Quantitative factors include building orientation optimized for solar gain and noise mitigation, while qualitative considerations emphasize respect for the sightlines and privacy of adjacent neighbors.
The directional force of architectural lines is profoundly influenced by gravity and natural phenomena such as earthquakes. Horizontal architecture, in particular, presents greater challenges in realization and construction than vertical forms. When mass tectonics are expressed horizontally, the mass is fragmented and diminished in scale, shifting the perception of power and dynamism to the observer.
Spatially, the project’s floor plates derive from a conceptual peeling and lifting of the landscape in a spiraling sequence, following the natural topography in a split-level arrangement. Through a series of deliberate maneuvers, the primary mass is shifted to optimize orientation and engage with communal spaces. These maneuvers create a seamless internal-external relationship, achieved through ground-floor setbacks and the strategic positioning of openings toward the street. The garage is also oriented to provide direct and convenient access to the building.
HI55
“The design prioritizes the aesthetic presence of the object itself, valuing it as an intrinsic element rather than treating architecture merely as a neutral backdrop for human activity. This approach is grounded in the belief that design possesses inherent generative potential, capable of driving profound social and economic transformation.”
“The spatial organization emerges from a conceptual peeling and lifting of the landscape in a spiral sequence, shaping the project’s floor plates to follow the site’s natural topography. This approach results in a split-level configuration that seamlessly integrates architecture with the terrain.”
