Located under the Hollywood sign in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles, the steep hillside site posed significant challenges; an uphill site, seismic conditions, and strict city and neighborhood requirements.
The idea was to build a small house that would not feel the limitations of its area.
Three parallel walls terrace the site, creating two garden levels and a platform for the house. The lower wall forms the street level garage and retains the earth for the gardens and house above. Sitting lightly on the middle wall is the house, which is a simple wood box. The house is small, 2000 square feet of living area, much of it open to 20 foot ceiling heights.
The roof construction is the primary architectural expression of the house Cantilevered by steel beams the roof is pivoted from the front wall anchored by tension cables. Continuous glass windows are between the top of the house walls and the roof plane, emphasizing the flying roof.
