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Sanjay Gangal
Sanjay Gangal is the President of IBSystems, the parent company of AECCafe.com, MCADCafe, EDACafe.Com, GISCafe.Com, and ShareCG.Com. Orum Residence in Los Angeles, California by SPF:architectsMarch 12th, 2019 by Sanjay Gangal
Article source: SPF:architects Perched atop a Bel Air hilltop, Orum is a three-level, 18,800-square-foot home designed to subtly “float” above its environs. Given its prominent positioning above a relatively developed neighborhood, the motivation behind the design of the home was to create a residence that could meld into its surroundings while maximizing views. The three-story structure, which takes on the shape of a three-winged propeller, is wrapped in glass that mirrors its sweeping views of the Los Angeles Basin, unobstructed from the Getty Center to Long Beach, Century City, and Downtown.  Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger
 Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger A “Cozy” 18,800 Square Feet When SPF:a first approached the project, the direction the design would take was not immediately clear. During the design phase, several different iterations were explored before ultimately landing the constructed scheme. Balancing scale, views, and comfort would prove to be the project’s biggest challenge. “The client wanted a luxurious house where she could throw large events and host her extended family, but she also wanted it to feel welcoming,” says SPF:a Founder and Design Principal, Zoltan E. Pali, FAIA. “To make this work, we needed the home’s spaces flow into one another with ease. Our answer was distribute the program across three ‘blades’ that radiate from a central node.”  Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger  Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger The outcome of the confluence—a dynamic glass and steel staircase stretching through the core of the structure—was in fact twofold: practically, it provided a very straightforward answer to the vast home’s circulation; visually, it joined what would otherwise be disparate areas in one’s line of sight. “In spite of the scale, I feel we were able to achieve a home that is both warm and functional,” says Pali.  Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger  Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger As a whole, Orum rises two stories above ground with its third floor burrowed into the hill. Programmatically, the residence has been split into three levels each consisting of three wings. The ground floor provides the entry and communal spaces for gathering, while the top floor is dedicated to the home’s private spaces. The upper southwest and southeast wings of the home hold the master and mini-master suites, both of which are afforded 270-degree views of the city and ocean thanks to their slim profiles. In contrast, the two smaller bedrooms are contained within the northern wing, embraced by the site’s adjacent hillside and the rear garden, giving them an intimate feel akin to a treehouse.  Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger  Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger All Wrapped Up “The light in Los Angeles is very dynamic and can be both calming and energizing,” says SPF:a Founder and Creative Director, Judit M. Fekete, “As the site is positioned quite high above the city with almost no impediments, we wanted the house to capture the spirit of these dualities. The huge panels of glass provide the home’s inhabitants with a strong connection to nature and the daily and seasonal arcs of light. However, this was easier said than done.”  Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger  Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger The glass curtainwall wrapping the third floor home is a highly sophisticated system custom developed in part with Swiss company Sky-Frame. The structure utilizes five different widths of four different opacities—reflective, opaque, translucent, and clear—that as an ensemble give the structure an infinite, visually shifting, shimmering façade. Significant testing and innovation went into developing the glass. The desire was to create a varied glazed façade, while at the same time upholding UV and SHGC ratings. This already rigorous effort was further complicated by the need to maintain a flush butt joint appearance.  Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger  Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger The reflective, opaque, translucent, and clear treatments are in fact specialized films that were repeatedly tested and refined further until the desired performance and aesthetic was achieved. The visual effect of a mullion-free system was achieved through the development of a state-of-the-art sealant. However, the most significant technological underpinning of this glazing system focused on holding the building’s deflection to less than 1/4″ (the upper wings would otherwise sag). Also of note, Orum’s three dramatic bends are each achieved using just three pieces of curved glass at the second floor and frameless bowed floor-to-ceiling sliders at ground level.  Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger  Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger The Trimmings The outdoor area includes a kitchen, two fire pits, and an LED-lit pool. All roof, balcony, and hardscape water is directed to a 7,000-gallon underground tank for landscape irrigation. The main garage also serves as an event space and can be completely opened on two sides for through views. The basement level has been outfitted with a home theatre, gym, spa, cedar sauna, service kitchen, and a wine room big enough to hold a thousand bottles. Also accessible from this floor is the Cube, an attached guesthouse designed for family and staff. The Cube is outfitted with four bedrooms, four baths, a kitchenette, and dedicated access and garage. A highly custom residence steeped with intricacies, Orum took four years to construct.  Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger  Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger  Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger  Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger  Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger  Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger  Image Courtesy © Matthew Momberger  Image Courtesy © SPF:architects  Image Courtesy © SPF:architects  Image Courtesy © SPF:architects  Image Courtesy © SPF:architects
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Tags: California, USA Categories: Garage, Ground, gym, House, Residential, space, Swimming Pool, Terrace |
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