MALIBU, CA
Ahmadian Residence
A 10,000 SF single family residence and guest house in Malibu which involved contending with Coastal Commission Approvals along with the Malibu Planning code that adhered to strict building height requirements and avoidance of adjoining site lines to the ocean from neighboring properties. The design approach thereby tucked the house into the hillside and creating large expanses of shaded glass facing the ocean. A basement level was utilized as the area was not subject to Planning’s floor area ratio requirements and incorporated such functions as: a home theater, wine cellar, parking and mechanical equipment rooms.
Doheny Drive
LOS ANGELES, CA
Before
This project entails remodel of a home in the exclusive and trendy LA enclave known as “the bird streets”, situated between Beverly Hills and the City of West Hollywood.
The structure was originally a one-story California Ranch-style residence built in the 30’s. In the early 1990’s the property underwent a major renovation, changing the general style of the home to Spanish Revival. As part of this renovation, a full second floor level was added, along with a 4-car garage, expanding the home to just under 5,000 square feet. Despite these considerable upgrades, the interior layout of the home remained confined and constricted.
In 2018 a residential developer purchased the home and commissioned The CBA Partnership Architects to enhance the quality of the property for resale. The house was renovated both internally and externally. The master bedroom suite was relocated, completely renovated and provided with an entry foyer, the master bathroom was remodeled and expanded, and a large walk-walk-in closet was added. A new bedroom with an in-suite bathroom was added on the second floor, adding square footage to the house. The kitchen was expanded and modernized. An additional dwelling unit (ADU) was permitted over the garage and afforded with a separate entrance, a private kitchen and ample living space. Interior walls were removed throughout the public areas of the house to create a more open and modern floor plan. In addition to the interior renovations the swimming pool and surrounding pool decks was completely renovated, and the exterior façade underwent a dramatic transformation in order to achieve a modernist aesthetic.
MALIBU, CA
Private Wine Cellar
This project consists of a new 1,000 square foot underground wine cellar that was buried in the back yard of an existing Malibu Home. To minimize construction time and control costs the concrete structure that formed the shell of the cellar was pre-fabricated off-site in sections. This structure was later trucked in and, with the help of a crane, dropped onto a concrete slab previously poured at the bottom of a 16-foot deep pit. The structure was then sealed, waterproofed, and covered in no time.
The wine cellar consists of two main areas: the wine cellar proper, and the tasting room, separated by a full-height glass wall with double french doors. Both areas were designed with separate air conditioning systems tailored to the distinctive use of either area. The wine cellar is capable of safely storing up to 3,000 bottles of wine at 55-degrees and at an optimum ambient humidity level. The surrounding soil acts as a natural insulation source and helps trap humidity as well.
The tasting area, on the other hand, is designed with an exhaust system carefully calibrated to ensure that the homeowner and his/her friends may each safely enjoy their cigars while they’re tasting wine. The tasting area also has a small kitchen area with an under-counter refrigerator and a toilette room to one side. The walk-in humidor, built in Spanish cedar, was designed as a fun way of exhibiting the owner’s prized cigar collection. Open boxes of cigars are displayed on open shelves with concealed LED lighting, and are viewed through a clear glazed french door. This humidor has the capacity of storing hundreds of cigars at an optimum temperature and humidity level to ensure cigars are kept fresh for many years.
Buentiempo Residence
LAKE HUGHES, CA
This project consists of a an efficiently designed 2,500 square foot home in Lake Hughes, California.
The house is located near the top of a hill, with prominent views of a beautiful, mostly virgen, valley towards the south. Accordingly, large glazed openings and doors were located on the south side of the structure, protected from the sun with the help of large sunshades overhead.
The exterior of the main portion of the house is proposed to be cladded with a corten steel rain-screen system. Corten is a trade name for a steel alloy material originally produced by United States Steel in the 1930's. This material is a weathering, corrosion resistant, steel, that when left uncoated develops a beautiful outer layer patina, dominated by orange and red rust tones. This patina develops and propagates to a certain point wherein it stops and stabilizes, naturally protecting the steel from additional corrosion.
The outdoor eating and barbecue area is surrounded by wall planes, also cladded in corten steel, in order to protect this area from the dominant winds from the southwest, and is covered with a trellis to further protect it from the hot summer sun.
Kimball Residence
TARZANA, CA
This project comprises the remodel of an existing two-story residence in Tarzana, California. The original home consisted of a 2,600 square-foot main structure with an attached two-car garage and an 835 square-foot detached guesthouse. Both the main residence and the guesthouse were originally built back in the late 60’s as part of a large tract housing development by Braemar Development and had not been updated since.
The project included demolishing and rebuilding a new guesthouse from the ground up, as well as adding approximately 1,000 square-feet of living space to the main structure. Additionally, the outdoor area was completely renovated with the addition of a 1,000 s.f. underground cellar tucked against the existing swimming pool. The underground structure included a wine cellar, a full bar and a substantial lounge and tasting areas. A large window used as a backdrop behind the bar, was designed to allow views of the swimming pool from under the waterline. The roof of the cellar is proposed to be covered with a floating ipe deck with dining and seating areas, adjacent to which the barbecue and outdoor bar are located.