California architect Lorcan O’Hurley, founder of the studio lohahe converted a neglected 1990s home in the South California in a family Accommodation With framed views of the mountainous terrain.
Located among a group of trees on a Malibu Downhill, Highgrove House was purchased by O’Herlihy and his wife Cornelia in 2010.
At the time, the circa 1998 house was structurally sound but in poor condition. Both the inside and the outside needed to be changed.
Over the years, the couple broke up renewal The two-story home — a project described as a “labor of love.” The work included a kitchen remodel, new countertops and wood floor restoration.
In 2020, the couple decided to embark on an overhaul and create a home that “ignites creativity.” Guidance concerns included embracing landscaping and retaining original building elements.
“It is important to preserve the existing structure when possible because it reduces the environmental footprint of the building,” he said. O’Herlihy.
“The key is strategic design within those parameters.”
O’Herlihy added a small room in the basement but kept the footprint of the house intact. New materials are incorporated, inside and out.
“The material choices are contemporary and timeless in equal measure against the backdrop of the Southern California mountains,” said the architect.
The house’s original fiber-cement siding was retained and the studio clad in a gray wood siding. The screen mitigates solar heat gain and helps, visually, to emphasize the house’s crisp rectilinear form.
In some areas, the screen is located 18 inches (46 cm) from the perimeter wall of the house. The distance enabled the architect to create deep windows, reducing solar gain and adding an artistic flair to the exterior.
In select areas, windows with plain casement windows have been replaced with casement-less casement windows. Glazing provides unobstructed views of the landscape.
The sliding glass door opens onto an L-shaped balcony, where the family loves to relax and enjoy the scenery.
Inside the 2,500-square-foot (232 m) home, the layout has been slightly modified.
The upper level contains the common spaces, along with a master suite and bedroom. The lower floors contain two more bedrooms.
Stairs were moved to make the living room larger, flexible space was added in the basement, and the bathroom was expanded. The garage has been converted into a children’s space.
Interior finishes included oak Painted floors and walls.
In the kitchen, the architect installed a custom Finnish birch plywood lockers and Caesarston countertop.
The house is furnished with contemporary décor, including chairs designed by him Le Corbusier.
LOHA, or Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects, has developed an extensive portfolio since its founding in 1994. Notable projects include Student housing complex that come down from a hillside in los angeles and A row of sculptural, metal-clad houses that explores the possibilities of Small Part Classification.
The company made the long list of Architecture Studio of the Year In the Dozen Awards Program 2022. In 2021, Lorcan O’Herlihy He was awarded the prestigious gold medal From the Los Angeles chapter of the AIA.
Photography by Here and Now Agency (HANA).