Thoughtful Restorations – Moore House by Woods + Dangaran

Positioned on a hillside in Los Angeles, Moore House by Woods + Dangaran is a delicate renovation that pays attention to the home’s 1965 form built by Craig Ellwood. Through careful considerations of materials and design techniques, the architects deliver a modern home that pays respect to its initial shape yet forges a new path towards the future.

After being owned by a local American band that left it in disrepair, Moore House needed thoughtful and delicate renovations. Tasked with the challenge to imbue the home with a contemporary spirit whilst also paying respect to its original form, Woods + Dangaran handled both the architecture and interior design and brought the home into a more modern context through material and textural choices.

Tasked with the challenge to imbue the home with a contemporary spirit whilst also paying respect to its original form, Woods + Dangaran handled both the architecture and interior design and brought the home into a more modern context through material and textural choices.

Placed above a carport, the rectangular house has been restored to retain the majority of its original structural elements alongside some interior features from Craig Ellwood’s design. The first inclination of the home’s kept character is the two bookends of the home – the first being the fire box, which has been modernised with a patina brass that wraps around it, whilst its original proportion and location are kept in reference. The second is a galley kitchen that allows for more space and ease of function. Additionally, the white-painted drywalls have been upgraded to a Burmese teak panel throughout and, to add consistency, the flooring is Burmese teak laid out in similar proportion and arrangement as the original construction.

To reduce the range of permanent materials used, Woods + Dangaran has turned the focus of attention towards the home’s drapery, furnishings, rugs and textiles. There is also a detailed use of marble and stone throughout the interior as well as a tile splashback in the kitchen that performs as an art installation. Moreover, the tile splashback offers a connection to the small porcelain tiles used in the bathrooms and other areas of the home. For the interior plumbing fixtures, door hardware and detailing, metal inlays are used and finished in a lacquered brass, which will patina over time and strengthen the feeling of connection to the home’s character and history.

Placed above a carport, the rectangular house has been restored to retain the majority of its original structural elements alongside some interior features from Craig Ellwood’s design

Overlooking the city of Los Angeles, the midcentury-inspired home embodies the feeling of a private oasis, with gardens to retreat to and a pool to enjoy. As requested by the owners, the original koi pond was kept and restored to heighten the haven-like character of the home’s yard, whilst the pool was a new addition. Often thought to be part of the original home, the pool was built out of concrete masonry units that were once part of the original foundation of Moore House. With respect to the history of the home, Woods + Dangaran has established a timeless design that allows the owners to surround themselves with the history of Los Angeles.