For the first time, AIA/LA ventures south to the picturesque beach community of Manhattan Beach to take architecture and design fans inside some of the most notable examples of modern architecture, demonstrating definitively that the ubiquitous Cape Cod no longer holds exclusive reign over the South Bay. For one day only, the public is welcome to wander through some of the most striking modern Manhattan Beach abodes, observing first-hand the seamless blend of industrial aesthetics and natural surroundings. Playing with materials, context, and fabrication, this class of modern architects has created a new brand of beach architecture that exemplifies coastal living, California-style, at its very best. The tour is self-driven, self-guided, rain or shine.
This exclusive peek, scheduled for Sunday, October 4th from 11am to 4pm, will include:
39TH STREET RESIDENCE
(Jess Mullen-Carey & William Beauter – MAKE Architecture)
Entertainment Epicenter with Expansive Ocean Views
Entertaining friends is the key goal put forth by the client for this 1,200sf remodel and 600sf 3rd floor addition to the 1970’s beach house located just a few doors from the Pacific Ocean. MAKE Architecture took advantage of the new third floor as an opportunity to provide better organization and maximize the location’s connection to the outdoors and views of the ocean beyond. Responsible remodeling practices were incorporated to retain, salvage and reuse existing elements to limit the newly processed materials needed for the remodeling. Foundations were carefully considered to strategically address the additional story while avoiding extensive retrofitting throughout. (Photo: John Edward Linden)
KUHLHAUS 02
(James Meyer, AIA – LeanArch)
Solar Savvy meets Industrial Chic
This single family residence located in the Gaslight District of Manhattan Beach is one in a series of homes commissioned by Kuhlhaus Development, LLC and produced by the award-winning Los Angeles based Design/Build firm Lean Arch, Inc. Committed to responsible development – redefining the modern home in response to concerns regarding energy consumption, land-use and the environment – this solar powered home with an open plan and large glass sliding doors create both visual and physical continuity between the interior and exterior. Flexible use spaces including the multiple outdoor patio and deck areas and a nod to “industrial chic” through use of building materials demonstrate why Kuhlhaus 02 is Build It Green rated. (Photo: Claudio Santini)
ROGERS-STURZ RESIDENCE
(Michael Lee, AIA – Michael Lee Architects)
Modern Live-Work Space
A pocket of zen in an otherwise boisterous environment, the primary living spaces of this 2,300 square foot, two-story house are oriented toward a central courtyard that opens up to the living room and main house. An office looks to a front-yard garden and above it the second-story master suite has its own south-facing deck. Exaggerated eaves protect the entry and master suite from the south sun and provide dynamic sculptural composition as one enters the home. The intimate entry space leads to a dramatic double-height living room with floor-to-ceiling glass. Twin stairs lined with bookcases lead to the bedrooms and become a striking wall of built-in furniture. (Photo: Jon Coolidge)
THE TREE HOUSE
(Grant Kirkpatrick, AIA – KAA Design Group, Inc.)
A Prefabricated, Sustainable Sanctuary
Located in the desirable “tree section” of Manhattan Beach, this home reinforces the viability of indoor/outdoor living along the Southern California coast. Locally sourced sustainable materials are, whenever possible and relevant to the design concept, left exposed to reveal their natural finishes.
The Tree House’s combination of wood, concrete and glass creates a nurturing aesthetic that feels as warm and familiar as it does forward and modern. The Modernist attention to detail is expressed throughout with hidden heating and cooling functions built in to allow for natural ventilation. (Photo: Erhard Pfeiffer)
For more information about the 2009 Fall Home Tour, please contact Haily Zaki at Secret Agent PR. Tickets can be purchased online at www.aialosangeles.org for $75.
