This project is located within the gated equestrian community of Bell Canyon, in eastern Ventura County California. The house is nestled midway up a steep hillside with views capturing the rolling hills and mature trees of Bell Canyon below. The topography of the lot had a steep heel and toe, while the middle portion of the lot was more moderately sloped, creating a natural place to locate a building pad.
The main consideration of the design was how the structure would respond to the terrain and capture the canyon views of the Simi Hills. The building elongates itself parallel to the view, thus creating panoramic views into Bell Canyon toward the east, while hiding itself from the two neighboring buildings on either side. By siting the mass of the building along the eastern edge of the slope, it opened up a large garden backyard between the building and the descending slope. Site lines from the interior social spaces extend from the backyard garden to the view of the canyon below.
2020 Winner of the National Best of Design Award, Religious/Institutional Category, from The Architect’s Newspaper.
For whomever visits a structure, architecture serves as a vessel of experiences and events. Sacred architecture can treasure memories, house beliefs and sustain confidence.
Mary Maydan, founder and principal of Maydan Architects designed this ultra-modern 7,000 square-foot Palo Alto residence, for her family. Nicknamed “Floating Boxes,” the home creates an illusion of three floating boxes. The boxes, which appear to float separately but are structurally interconnected, symbolize the three generations that share the home: Mary and her husband, their four children, and Mary’s parents. The home’s ultra-modern minimalist style stands out in the neighborhood. Mary’s multigenerational family home redefines modern design in Silicon Valley, both through the exterior facade and the interior details. The floating concept continues inside the home with walls that appear to be detached from the floor and ceiling, an effect that was achieved using special aluminum drywall molds. The house includes doors with no jambs to create a completely flush look with only a slim reveal between the door and the walls, and door handles without rosettes. A 52-foot-long glass facade opens the home to the backyard, enhancing the indoor-outdoor flow.
We have been trying to build in Los Angeles for more than a decade and the Audrey Irmas Pavilion for the Wilshire Boulevard Temple marks our first cultural building in the city. It is also our first religious institution. Religious institutions have always played a critical role in civic life as places for communal activities in and out of worship.
The temple’s vision for its campus was to create a space to host the multiple ways in which people convene. How can the new pavilion harness the energy of gathering that is simultaneously respectful to historic traditions and reflective of modern civic needs?
View from Wilshire Boulevard Entry, Image courtesy of OMA New York, Photography by Jason O’Rear
The Roger Lee designed house from 1962 was purchased by the current homeowners in almost original condition, as the previous owners elected to defer most maintenance projects over the years. The clients were able to see beyond the dated materials and finishes, single-paned glass and uninsulated walls and they approached Klopf Architecture to help them expand and update the entire home, one the family could settle into and enjoy for years to come. It was important that the new designs were aligned with Lee’s original intent not only because of the client’s appreciation for mid-century modern architecture, but also because the house was deemed historical. The Stanford Real Estate Office requires a stringent design review which safeguards the integrity of the community, which Klopf Architecture was happy to oblige going into their updated designs.
Theorem Winery is located west of downtown Calistoga, California, within the Diamond Mountain appellation in Napa Valley. Eschewing the ubiquitous large winery venues focused on handling hundreds of guests at one time, Theorem is designed as an intimate, bespoke experience where hospitality reigns supreme.
The 60-acre complex features a cluster of late-19th century structures originally built by Beverley Cole as a country retreat to escape the fog of San Francisco (Cole is noted for establishing what would become the University of California/San Francisco Medical System). The property includes a small schoolhouse and a distinguished Greek revival cottage known as the Cole House, which was restored and remodeled by Richard Beard prior to masterplanning the property for the new winery. The winery is designed to complement the restored historic structures, taking inspiration from the vernacular agricultural buildings found on site and in the region. Clad in dark-toned materials to visually recede into the surrounding landscape, the complex takes second seat to views of Mount St. Helena to the north and vineyards to the south.
Situated atop the crest of a hill within the rolling landscape of the Willow Creek AVA District, Copia Vineyards is a destination winery designed to capture the essence of wine, from vine to table. The hilltop winery serves as the culmination of an immersive journey that begins as visitors wind their way through the 25 acres of planted vineyard. Fleeting glimpses of the winery are revealed from between the hills, before being fully revealed at the hilltop.
Alda Ly Architecture (ALA) has designed a bold, vibrant space for Tia, a full-service women’s healthcare platform architecting a new, women-centric model of care with a blend of in-person and virtual services. ALA’s design visualizes the Tia ethos: to offer a personalized approach to healthcare by fusing OB/GYN, primary care, mental health, and evidenced-based wellness services into an integrative experience that’s convenient, collaborative, and focused on prevention. With its inaugural Los Angeles location, Tia will be able to serve thousands of patients in the community.
The Los Angeles space is the first of several Tia locations ALA is designing for the fast-growing healthcare startup, including its San Francisco headquarters, a clinic in Phoenix, and more to follow. Tia’s first location is located in New York City.
Inspired by the Barcelona Pavilion designed by Mies van der Rohe, the combination pool house and guest house was designed to connect the pool area to the original design of the mid-century modern main residence. The new pool house/guest house was one component of an integrated master plan that included renovations to the main house, the new pool, and a new art studio. Thoughtful planning was taken to ensure that all structures were carefully aligned to feel at rest with one another and to create a sense of cohesiveness throughout the property.
The award-winning Glorya Kaufman Performing Arts Center at Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services is nearly complete after a major renovation and expansion of the non-profit’s beloved 56-year-old temple. In addition to being the future home to Vista Del Mar’s innovative therapeutic performing arts programs, the building will provide the city with a new 300-seat event venue. Construction is scheduled to be fully complete in mid-Spring 2021, with the center opening soon thereafter.