Grounded in Origins – Santa Monica Canyon by And And And Studio

Strengthening its presence within the streetscape, the facade of Santa Monica Canyon undergoes a reconfiguration, drawing inspiration from the Spanish architectural legacy of the area. Through repetition and restraint, And And And Studio highlights the residence as a sanctuary, evoking a sense of seclusion and detachment.

Located within its namesake, Santa Monica Canyon shares similarities with the more robust dwellings that were originally built in the area. Amid a diverse array of architectural styles in the immediate vicinity, the owners sought to tether the residence to its historical roots. Introducing arched openings across the entrance not only establishes a consistent aesthetic indoors but also encourages a cooling breeze and creates serene resting spots around the perimeter. “The home addresses the surrounding context in terms of its overall massing,” says Annie Ritz, co-founder and principal designer of And And And Studio. “We chose to locate the second level as far back as possible from the street in order to blend in more with the single-level homes next door.”

Introducing arched openings across the entrance not only establishes a consistent aesthetic indoors but also encourages a cooling breeze and creates serene resting spots around the perimeter.

Given its wide allotment, rather than extending the residence’s form deeper into the site, it expands horizontally across the property. The layout comprises intersecting, box-like forms, each serving a specific function or role, all of which are connected by strong corridor elements. “Most of those homes [in the area] tend to be fairly small and modest but with a beautiful and simple material palette,” adds Annie, “and the owners wanted a home that was similar to a typical LA Spanish bungalow – a typology that was very popular in the 1920s to ‘40s in Los Angeles.”

Through the integration of both curved and linear features, a sense of balance is achieved, evident in both the approach and the interior spaces. The spacious design of the home reflects a similar, balanced approach to scale, highlighting the geometries by stripping back the layers within. “We took a fairly minimal approach to materiality,” says Annie. “We wanted the softness of the curves and the flow of the spaces to be felt and chose to have a neutral palette throughout the majority of the house.” While colour is applied sparingly, its integration is purposeful, aiming to harmonise with the natural palette of the surroundings. By combining steel, timber, plaster and stone, the palette remains true to the initial goal of achieving more with less.

While colour is applied sparingly, its integration is purposeful, aiming to harmonise with the natural palette of the surroundings.

Although there was the option to construct a much larger building on the site, Santa Monica Canyon stays true to the existing contextual cues. Instead of opting for size, And And And Studio focuses on embedding the outer and inner details with character, thereby offering a contemporary rendition of the original style.