Los Feliz Residence in California by Surfacedesign, Inc

Article source: Surfacedesign, Inc

The Dundee Residence landscape transforms a simple pool deck and poorly maintained hillside landscape into an exuberant space for living and entertaining, and ultimately a dynamic play space for a mother (and Hollywood stylist) and her young children.  The house was built speculatively in the 1990’s and designed to mimic the steep architectural pedigrees of its international style neighbors.  Dundee sits perched high in the hills with sweeping views of Downtown Los Angeles to the South and the chaparral hills of Griffith Park to the east.  Located in hills above the Los Feliz, the neighborhood is home to actors, rockstars and Hollywood elite and to some of LA’s most significant architecture, including Frank Llloyd Wright’s Ennis-Brown House and Richard Neutra’s Lovell Health House.

Image Courtesy © Surfacedesign, Inc

• Architects: Surfacedesign, Inc
• Project: Los Feliz Residence
• Location: California, USA

Image Courtesy © Surfacedesign, Inc

The project began as a modest proposal to resurface a pool deck and re-plaster an existing pool.  Seizing an opportunity to visually connect the pool area to the wild landscape of Griffith Park, the landscape architects introduced a dramatic, undulating wood wall to screen a large retaining wall between the house and the park.  Concealing a stair leading to trail access to the park, the wall’s form suggests the folds and striations of the sandstone geology.  Planted against the backdrop of the intricate folds and joints of the CNC-routed wood wall is a garden of succulents, including Euphorbias, Sedums and Ocotillo.  The succulent garden extends across the pool deck, integrated into the intricately striped paving of stone, pre-cast concrete, and the sedum and aromatic thyme ground cover.  Virtually invisible behind retractable panels in the wood wall is a full-service outdoor kitchen that opens up for family barbeques.

Image Courtesy © Surfacedesign, Inc

Image Courtesy © Surfacedesign, Inc

Adjacent to the private wing of the house is an expansive hillside garden of wood decks, boardwalks, and belvederes.  Conceived as an orchard of ancient olive trees, the garden’s most dramatic feature is a spa with a 30 ft. retractable cover that extends to a 2 story outdoor shower and water-wall formed of folded steel.  A “woven” hardwood boardwalk passes through the orchards and stands of “fried egg” Matilija poppies and graceful Mexican Feather Grass, terminating in a secluded perch with dramatic views of the LA basin.

Image Courtesy © Surfacedesign, Inc

Image Courtesy © Surfacedesign, Inc

Image Courtesy © Surfacedesign, Inc

Image Courtesy © Surfacedesign, Inc

Image Courtesy © Surfacedesign, Inc

Image Courtesy © Surfacedesign, Inc

Image Courtesy © Surfacedesign, Inc

Image Courtesy © Surfacedesign, Inc

Image Courtesy © Surfacedesign, Inc

Image Courtesy © Surfacedesign, Inc

Tags: California, USA

Category: Residential

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