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Strata House by KOVAC
Sited on a verdant hilltop in Bel Air with 270-degree views of the Los Angeles Basin, Strata House by KOVAC sees generations of built contributions converge.
The residence is defined by its various layers, or strata, which encompass a battered stone base, a modernist glass-walled pavilion and the most recent addition – a contemporary, Shou Sugi Ban charred timber volume. “We like to call it Strata House because it reflects something coming out of the ground and transforming through the ages,” says managing partner Thomas Schneider. The site, which is indeed multifaceted, has a storied past – Hollywood actress Zsa-Zsa Gabor lived in the original 1950s structure before it was destroyed by a fire in 1961, and the modernist pavilion was designed by prominent Canadian architect John B. Parkin in 1968.
KOVAC’s response was grounded in uniting these varied stylistic influences and celebrating the site’s lineage in creating a liveable and luxurious family home. “It was a bit tired, but it had this pavilion space, which was really the iconic piece. So, early on, we said we wanted to embrace it and work with it,” says founder and creative director Michael Kovac.
At the base, the stone plinth appears to burrow into the side of the mountain. The layout loosely follows that of the original 1950s residence, and it opens onto a swimming pool that extends out into the landscape like a cube of overflowing water. The top level – the new timber-clad addition – contains the more private areas including bedrooms, a home office and a library, realised in calming neutral palettes. A private outdoor terrace sits atop the pavilion like a hidden oasis, softened by long-leaf grasses and the extensive use of timber.
The central, reimagined modernist pavilion contains most of the shared living spaces with a screening room, a bar with an intricate brass latticework screen, as well as the kitchen and dining areas. Generous apertures frame views of the surrounding mature oaks and reinforce the home’s connection to the hilltop, which is populated by native deer. These openings also create dynamic shadow play across the day. “It’s really exciting to see how the house changes as the sun moves about. The shadows graze different hallways and create dynamic spaces,” says Schneider.
At the rear, the living room is supremely inviting. Realised in sparkling silver and grey-blue tones reflecting the Los Angeles skyline, and replete with a large sunken lounge, it is Strata House’s indisputable jewel. Floor-to-ceiling glazing on all sides ensures unobstructed views of the surrounding hillside and the city below, and a large outdoor terrace allows for indoor-outdoor living in keeping with California’s climate.
Though confident in their nuances, these various strata are inextricably linked, and the interiors are integral to this cohesion. Inspired by 1970s Hollywood glamour and mid-century culture, there’s vintage furniture by Pierre Paulin, Eileen Gray and Olivier Mourgue alongside custom shag rugs and a Sputnik pendant. Timber wall panelling with curved motifs, gold-veined Sahara noir marble, bold colours and indoor plants drive this concept home. Schneider says, “the Mad Men aesthetic was an important influence to pull from to create spaces that can function both in the daytime as a family home but that transform into this rich, lustrous, nighttime feel.”
Not only is this curation fitting for the project’s heritage, but it reflects the clients’ affinity for modernism with a cinematic edge. These influences are tempered just so by KOVAC’s modern sensibility, making for an elegantly realised residence that champions its Californian context in multiple ways.
Architecture and interior design by KOVAC. Lighting Design by Lux Populi.
