Project Data:

Completion Date:     4/1/2022

Square Footage:      20300

Building Use:           Single Family Residential

Project Description:

Mansion is a term that has lost much of its distinction, but Aria gives it a new lease of life. In situation, scale and materiality this house is grand without being ostentatious. It rises three stories from a promontory that commands an all-around view of hills, city and ocean. The site has a pedigree, for Jane and Peter Fonda lived in the former house, as did the Reagans before they moved to the White House. The new structure was built for a large Italian family based in Vancouver, who had commissioned three other projects from us as well, and it is now owned by an entrepreneur who loves to entertain.

On plan, the site resembles a tear drop and a pool is wrapped around three sides of the living-dining room. Water gurgles down a retaining wall in the rear. Travertine in a variety of finishes clads the house and an impressive flight of steps leads up from the motor court to the mid-level entry. A palisade of green marble slats evoking a colonnade screens the double-height entry hall, providing privacy and shade. Their vertical thrust is echoed in the black glazing bars and complements the horizontality of the black roof beams. The monochromatic palette is softened by plantings on three sides and by the bleached walnut floors and soffits.

Boldly figured marble lines the primary bathroom and rough-hewn stone in a powder room. Everywhere, accents and details enliven the expanses of wood and stone and the pale-toned furnishings by interior designer Sarah McKay add another dimension to the composition. The third-floor master bedroom is entirely lined in walnut and opens onto a long, landscaped terrace. Two guest suites share this floor. The new owner is adding a roof deck where up to three hundred guests can gather.

Few five-star hotels offer such so many amenities and such a refined level of design, especially on the lower story. The home theater doubles as a slumber room for grandchildren. The rounded stone arches of the spa were inspired by an Ottoman hammam. The wine room encourages you to linger for tastings. Three additional bedrooms, a gym and an onyx bar are lit from the courtyard that backs up to the hillside. Below the waterfall is a living wall and a fountain spilling into a pool. This tightly enclosed outdoor room serves as an intimate refuge for family gatherings in contrast to the expansive public areas.

Design for Integration, Design for Ecosystems, Design for Water , Design for Energy, Design for Well-being, Design for Resources, Design for Change, Design for Discovery 

Integration: The goal for the layout on this site was all about harnessing the beautiful view that make these hills such an attractive place to live. Every room in this house was designed for a view, whether it's the lusciously green internal courtyard or the panoramic view of the city below, where city lights sparkle at night like diamonds on black velvet. These indoor-outdoor connections are made even more seamless by the pocketing glass doors, blurring the line that divides the house from the garden. As seen in the image of the kitchen, the landscaping utilized tactics like layering prominent trees in front of a ficus hedge over tropical plants, which made the lawn feel larger and made the ficus backdrop feel like the start of a deep forest even thought it was the end of the property. When it comes to engaging senses, nothing does that better than the water that was strategically placed throughout the site, from the entry wrap-around pool to the 2-story courtyard water feature. These water features give the sound and smell of tranquility while amplifying the natural light into nearby spaces via reflections throughout the day.

Ecosystems: Aria enhances the local ecosystem through its extensive green roof, perimeter landscaping, and thoughtfully integrated vegetation. These elements not only foster ecological vitality but also prioritize water conservation by using native plant species. By incorporating natural views from nearly every area of the project, Aria harmoniously reconnects occupants with the surrounding landscape, creating a beneficial relationship between the built environment and nature.

Water: We view water as a key element in creating experiential serenity within our spaces. In Aria, water plays a central role, with numerous features, including an infinity edge pool that seems to merge with the city skyline and wraps the living area. These water elements not only enhance the visual connection with the outdoors but also reflect light deeper into the interior, filling the home with vibrant, natural illumination.

Energy: Aria incorporates extensive operable glazing, which reduces reliance on heating and cooling systems and lowers energy consumption year-round. Strategic placement of large cantilevered planes and screens provides effective shading for interior spaces, minimizing direct sunlight and further enhances the home's energy efficiency.

Well-Being: A major factor of the design, from spatial layout to materials to details, is focused on promoting comfort and health of the occupants and creating a connection to nature. As mentioned in the integration to the site, greenery, natural light, and water are always a glance or arm's-length away from almost any room, even in the basement. In the basement, we worked with the client on what their physical and mental needs were to build out an entire wellness area including a gym, sauna, steam room, hot/cold plunge, light therapy, salon, and more to offer an incredible sense of wellness within their home.

Resources: Warm travertine, natural stone, and light wood soffits create a cohesive flow between indoor and outdoor spaces. Steel is strategically placed in key areas to enhance the structure's durability, ensuring its resilience and longevity for decades to come.

Change: Recognizing that change is a constant in the lives of its occupants, Aria embraces flexibility through its open, flowing design. This adaptability allows the space to evolve with changing lifestyles. The integration of indoor and outdoor living areas further enhances this flexibility, offering a floor plan that can accommodate evolving needs and preferences over time.

Discovery: This house was built on an incredible site that came with many challenges. The biggest challenges were also some of the most enjoyable parts of the project. The slope created a unique constraint of fitting the program so we had to get creative with the whole project team to come up with how we can fit in the building envelope, which resulted in a basement perfect for entertaining, a stand-out staircase at the entry, and the list goes on. Many consider constraints a negative but to us, they’re part of the fun.

Completion Date:     4/1/2022

Square Footage:      20300

Building Use:           Single Family Residential

Location:                 Los Angeles, CA

McClean Design

McClean Design

N/A

Parker Resnick Structural Engineering

Garden of Eva

Tyler Development Corporation

Colab House - Interior Designer

Manolo Langis