Hillside House
Mount Washington, Los Angeles
A concrete house built into a steep lot in Mount Washington, on three half levels.
The three levels from the slope below, looking west.
Type
House
Status
Completed
Place
Mount Washington, Los Angeles
Year
2020–2023
Area
310 m² / 3,340 ft²
Client
Private
Team
Martin Vale, Keiko Sato, Tom Brandt
Photography
Rafael Duarte
Brief
A family of four asked for a house with a studio for working at home, a room for a visiting grandparent, and a garden on a lot that has almost no flat ground.
Site
A narrow lot that falls 12 m from the street, facing east across the Arroyo Seco.
Approach
The house steps down the slope in three half levels. Board-formed concrete walls hold back the hill and are left exposed inside. White oak lines the floors and ceilings. The garden sits on the roof of the lowest level, level with the kitchen.
Outcome
Completed in 2023. Shortlisted for the Westlight Awards for Small Buildings, 2023.
Section through the three levels, 1:100
Top level, looking down the stair to the middle level.
Kitchen level, with the roof garden beyond the glass wall.
Kitchen level plan, 1:100
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