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HC+RA
Los Angeles, CA
ABOVE: The San Juan house's design expresses the belief that architecture presents a dialogue between the man-made and natural worlds. Built on an undeveloped 1.5-
acre site, the house sits within a forest of blackberry bushes intertwined around a variety of native trees, such as cedars, scrub pines, majestic maples, and alders.
FACING PAGE: Materials and finishes — such as yellow cedar, corrugated metal, cementitious panels, and various forms of concrete — are guided by a desire to incorporate
as many green, local sources as possible with a general consideration for ease of maintenance. Light and sun are precious commodities in the Pacific Northwest, thus
the residence responds by opening to the sunny orientations with full-height windows, sliding glass doors, and clerestories. For important water management, all the
rainwater f rom roofs and gardens is collected and stored for reuse as irrigation. The house is composed of a series of pavilions that are placed gradually and sequentially
higher in concert with the rising topography of the site. The pavilions are connected with a double-height gallery that exhibits an extensive collection of the owner's art,
which she has been producing for years.
Photographs by Lara Swimmer
See more about HC+RA on page 459
