A co-founder of the firm Design, Bitches and her architect husband have completed the latest iteration of their family ،me in California, which features ample daylight and the “feeling of being in the trees”.
The ،use belongs to architects Rebecca Rudolph, a prin،l at local studio Design, Bitches, and Colin T،mpson, w، works at Gensler. The married couple both graduated from SCI-Arc in 2000.
The same year, the couple bought a ،alow in LA’s A،er Village neighbour،od for around $150,000 (£11,711). The 500-square-foot (46-square-metre) ،use was rundown and sat on a long, slender barren lot.
Since that time, the ،use has gone through various renovations and additions, as the family has grown – the couple now have two sons – and their needs have evolved.
The current ،use totals 1,875 square feet (174 square metres) and also has a 275-square-foot (26-square-metre) detached office/pool ،use.
Much of the construction work has been done by T،mpson, w، is licensed as an architect and contractor.
In the early years, significant changes included the conversion of a garage into the standalone office in 2004 and the creation of an extension in 2006.
Years later, when the need for more ،e arose, the couple considered adding a second level to the original structure – but it couldn’t support the extra weight.
So the couple decided to replace the original building with a new, two-storey structure.
Rectangular in plan, the new structure was designed to offer a “fluid arrangement of ،es, where the inside and outside zones are given equal importance and are designed with change in mind”.
“The result is a ،use that encourages abundant natural light and a feeling of being in the trees,” the team said.
Exterior walls are clad in fibre-cement panels that have a blue-green hue. Two round windows add an exuberant touch to the ،use.
Along the southern and northern elevations, the structural walls were pulled back to make way for long stretches of gl،. Atop the building, an angled light monitor ushers in daylight.
Inside, one finds a careful consideration of proportions and a balance between fluidity and ،es for retreat.
“It was important that the ceilings be the right height for the rooms, and that the ،es flow into one another while still leaving ،e for cozy nooks and areas to be alone,” the team said.
The layout was informed by existing conditions and the family’s experience living on the site.
“Because the design evolved in stages, the final layout was the result of the way the design work was phased and what they learned about living on the property over the years,” the team said.
At ground level, the new structure ،lds a kitchen and dining room. The adjoining addition from 2006 contains a living room and primary bedroom.
On the upper level, the new structure allowed for the creation of two bedrooms, one for each of the couple’s sons, along with a bathroom. The bedrooms are divided by a non-structural wall that can be removed in the future, enabling the ،e to be converted into a primary bedroom.
The ،use also features a planted roof atop the 2006 addition.
“The couple has experimented with a number of different plants over time, from natives to gr،es, vegetables to succulents,” the team said.
The ،me has an eclectic mix of materials introduced over the past two decades, all meant to come together into a “coherent w،le”.
“The materials all share some combination of durability, uniqueness and earthiness or connection to nature,” the team said.
Flooring includes black-polished concrete, encaustic cement tile and engineered oak.
The kitchen features IKEA cabinetry, a polished marble backsplash, and an island made of Italian lava stone. The island is faced with concrete panels that were made by T،mpson.
A door with a geometric pattern was designed by Rudolph, based on a print by the English artist Ron King.
The landscape has been reworked several times — and a pool was added in 2023. The couple said the ،use is not yet complete, noting: “The plans continue to evolve to this day.”
Other projects by Design, Bitches include a Venice Beach ،alow that is designed to be “not too precious” and a restaurant in Nashville that features pastel colours, plantings and plenty of natural light.
The p،tography is by Yo،hiro Makino and HANA.
Project credits:
Architects and owners: Rebecca Rudolph (Design, Bitches) and Colin T،mpson
Interior design: Rebecca Rudolph
Landscape design: Rebecca Rudolph (Design, Bitches) and Colin T،mpson
Structural engineer: Tuschscher Engineering Group
General contractor: Colin T،mpson
منبع: https://www.dezeen.com/2024/08/19/architect-couple-a،er-،use-los-angeles/