![Book Flatlay Cover Front Transparent Trio[1]](https://d31dpzy4bseog7.cloudfront.net/media/2024/06/07080212/Book_Flatlay_Cover_Front_Transparent_Trio1.png)
Mar Vista House No. 1 by Hopson Rodstrom Design
Tucked away on a secluded, vine-covered lot in West Los Angeles, a modest post-war bungalow has been quietly reimagined as a layered, light-filled haven for a creative couple, their twin children and the family dog.
Avoiding the use of drywall, architecture by Hopson Rodstrom Design (H/RD) embraces a raw, tactile palette of timber, concrete and glass, allowing natural materials to shape both the mood and form. The entry sequence begins with a compressed forecourt that opens into a central circulation space – an area that connects all areas of the home. From here, the eye is drawn through to the pool and outdoor patio, anchoring the dwelling’s connection to its leafy surrounds.
Overhead, a sequence of heavy timber beams forms the spine of the residence, running front to back and establishing a unifying rhythm throughout. Suspended from above to avoid overwhelming the space, the weighty beams were carefully positioned so that the only removable barrier between inside and out remains the slim slider track – allowing the beams to hover almost like an architectural umbrella.
The stair slips between two of these beams, offering a moment of tactility as residents pass through to the second storey, able to brush their hands along the timber as they ascend to the primary suite above. “We were careful to ensure the process of passing from below the beamed ceiling to above would provide an opportunity to interact with the beams directly – to touch them and fully gauge the scale and texture,” says Nick Hopson of HRD. “The beams were, in some ways, spaced apart specifically to allow for a stair to slip in between them, enabling that interaction.”
Three private rooms occupy the upper level, including the children’s bedrooms on one side, a secondary suite on the other, as well as the primary suite. “The organisation of the home’s more private volumes as separate, enclosed spaces give the house a feeling of openness,” says Hopson. “Like entering a pavilion or even a small village that’s made up of separated walls and a canopy, but nothing enclosing the space between them.”
Downstairs, the common living area is situated toward the rear of the property, tucked below the beamed canopy and almost nestled into the landscape. Here, a small entry courtyard and central chamber provides access to all areas of the home, doubling as a warm invitation to gather by the outdoor patio and pool. When the doors are fully open, it becomes nearly impossible to distinguish where the indoors ends and the outside begins. “A reason this approach is successful is because the beamed ceiling extends beyond the glass enclosure and blurs that line,” explains Hopson. “This occurs at the front entry, the pool patio and the side yard as well.”
The home strikes a beautiful balance between openness and intimacy, precision and softness. Though compact in size, it feels generous in proportion – offering a secluded, private retreat that remains connected to its surroundings. “All of this indoor-outdoor blurring is made possible by the climate of Southern California, specifically the Mar Vista neighbourhood, which is less than two miles from the beach and experiences a comfortable ocean breeze year-round,” says Hopson.
While small in scale but expansive in experience, Mar Vista House No. 1 has been affectionately referred to as a ‘jewel box’. “There’s a real precision and refinement of materials throughout the home, but volume as well,” says Hopson. “The last 10 years has seen a boom of mini-McMansion-style development in the area, so our approach was a considered rebuttal to the idea that a lot must be built to the max to capture the most value.”
Architecture by Hopson Rodstrom Design. Build by Mallis Workshop. Landscape design by Studio Grey Green.
