California architect Lorcan O'Herlihy, founder of the studio LOHA, has transformed a neglected 1990s house in southern California into a family residence with framed views of mountainous terrain.
Nestled amongst a cluster of trees on a Malibu hillside, the Highgrove House was purchased by O'Herlihy and his wife, Cornelia, in 2010.
Highway House is nestled into a mountainous hillside in Malibu
At the time, the circa-1998 house was structurally sound but in a state of disrepair. Both the interior and exterior were in need of a makeover.
Over the years, the couple chipped away at renovating the two-storey house ? a project described as a "labor of love". The work included a kitchen remodel, new decks and the restoration of hardwood floors. Lorcan O'Herlihy renovated the house for his family
In 2020, the couple decided to embark on a major overhaul and create a home that "sparks creativity". Guiding concerns included embracing the landscaping and retaining original building elements.
"It's important to keep the existing structure when possible because it cuts down the ecological footprint of construction," said O'Herlihy.
"The key is to strategically design within those parameters."
The home's fibre-cement siding was retained
O'Herlihy added a small room on the lower level but otherwise kept the home's footprint intact. New materials were incorporated, both inside and out.
"The material choices are equally contemporary and timeless a...