Binational studio Montalba Architects used ample glazing and a clever siting strategy to provide the best vistas at Canyon Terrace House in southern California.
Designed for a family of four, the multi-storey home sits on a sloped site in Santa Monica.
A slender pool features outside
Providing a connection to the outdoors ? including views of a nearby canyon ? was a guiding concern for Montalba Architects. The main intent was "to create a dialogue between indoor and outdoor spaces", the studio said.
In turn, the team conceived an L-shaped, rectilinear dwelling that opens up toward the road ? an orientation that captures the best views of the canyon, which lies to the west.
Montalba Architects designed the house in southern California Along the main street-facing elevation, the team placed a patio and slender pool. Trees and a fence block views from passers-by.
The front door is found on the east, tucked back from the road.
The central fireplace is made of limestone
Exterior walls consist of light-toned stucco and vast stretches of glass. Several areas are lined with patios and balconies shaded by anodized-aluminium louvres.
"Nature and natural light are the piece de resistance," the studio said.
Montalba Architects incorporated large stretches of glass into the design
"The home coexists with sweeping canyon views, allowing full sun exposure to radiate through two intersecting volumes that orient each of the living areas toward landscapes beyond the ...