Private Residence, Altadena

Floating patios and French doors open up the interior space to the outdoors.

Project Details

• Project Name: Private Residence
• Client: Private
• Project Type: Residential design
• Principal Designer: Christopher Mercier, Doug Pierson
• Design Team: Christopher Mercier, Doug Pierson, Adam Wheeler
• Contractor: Dave Diaz, LCD Development
• Year of commencement of project: 1998
• Year of completion of project: 2003
• Location of site: Altadena, California, USA
• Site Area: 9,052 square feet
• Cost of Construction: USD 100,000

The house opens onto a semi-private breakfast patio with a built in barbeque station.

The Building

The design attempts to increase the spaciousness of the small house by taking advantage of a large undeveloped yard and modernizing its look and feel.

Intimate outdoor spaces were created through hardscape walls, patios and balconies, and various lush landscape plantings.

French doors were used to extend the rooms spatially and visually into the yard.

The plan and circulation of the house is thus loosened up without losing the cozy feel of a traditional bungalow fused with its surroundings.

The backyard is filled with drought-resistant plants. Water is extensively exploited as an element of the landscape.

Phase 1 of the project involved the remodeling of front yard patio and kitchen.

The kitchen was reorganized along an open layout, its ceilings raised and new cabinets and lights fitted.

Existing doors were replaced with French doors opening onto the entry porch and down into the breakfast patio with its built in barbeque station.

Left: The kitchen space is completely remodeled with higher ceilings and new cabinetry and lighting, Right: The outdoor shower is secure, private, and yet open to sky.

Phase 2 of the project involved the remodeling of large rear lot space.

Floating balconies and French doors were introduced in both bedrooms in the house.

A single frosted door now extended from inside the bathroom to the outdoor shower, which was enclosed in a concrete block and open to sky.

Two concrete patios with built-in seating were created underneath the existing Oak trees. Water is extensively exploited in the landscape, unifying the various elements in the backyard.

Further the balconies and patios were lit up strategically and earth beams and landscape lighting used to accentuate the outdoor spaces.

Credits

• Text: Courtesy of the architect
• Photographs by Jack Coyier, Courtesy of the architect
• Compiled and edited by Mitesh Saraf