The Middle House, California coast villa images, USA waterfront home interior, CA residence architect

The Middle House in Santa Monica

Contemporary Californian Residential Building design by humn lab+ design + build

Nov 29, 2016

Architects: humn lab+ design + build

Location: 716 el Medio Ave. Pacific Palisades, California, United States of America

The Middle House, Pacific Palisades

Photos by DNA Photography

The Middle House, el Medio Ave, Pacific Palisades

The over all design intent was to make this home an entertainment zone, on every level, while being functionally able to support a single family.

The context of the site is a single family home located in Pacific Palisades (Los Angeles), located no more than 1/16 of a mile above the Pacific Ocean, near a very pedestrian walkable downtown Pacific Palisades.

It is located on a hill side ordinance which determined some of the mass, and bulk plane of the overall design. It has three levels, and a master deck, a roof top deck, and a pool a the lowest level…this site has ocean views from the top level.

Many homes in the area, shelter the higher echelon society of Los Angeles, while having mixed in the neighborhood, several old school homes, that have been around since the 1940-50s.

The composition of the house is again is determined by the code dictated in the hillside ordinances. The home seems to be a bit like a clothes dresser, with its drawers pulled out to massive cantilevers, to grab views of the Pacific Ocean, while the back/flat side faces the street.

The house uses the highest finishes, clear cedar, steel smooth trowled stucco, greens roofs, poured in place ribbed concrete, concrete tiles warmed by radiant heating, and natural woods provides a sense of warmth while at the same time provides a none circuitous composition.

The kitchen sliders, over 50’ of pocketing Fleetwood’s, over 13’ tall, which open completely to the views below into the canyon, blur the line from inside to outside.

Bryan Winters, founder of noted design + build firm, humn lab+, was commissioned by the owner, to design a home with chic, timeless, functional, large indoor/outdoor and open living spaces. This home wouldn’t be complete without a combination pool/spa multiple fire pits, and a 360 degree rooftop deck, on a lot that yields sweeping views north, south, and the striking views of the great Santa Monica Mountains. This home is versatile enough to fit the life style of a family, dignitary, or entertainer.

Many would of walked away from a project this demanding, but Mr. Winters took on this challenge and made it into work of art. This eye-catching and breath taking design is sculptured in a 5,300 sq ft. home, features 5 bedrooms with walking in closets, 5.5 baths, with one of the bedrooms being downstairs with a private entrance to be used as an office, guest room, or maid’s quarters.

The ground floor has over 45 lineal feet of the tallest manufactured Fleetwood sliding doors, at 13 feet tall.

The indoor/outdoor design of the home can entertain over 200 people comfortably. The kitchen and BBQ area features all Viking cooking appliances, with one exception a built in Miele Espresso Machine, even though Starbucks is just down the street.

The Middle House – Building Information

Architect: the design team is humn lab+ design + build. we did all the above!
Location: 716 el Medio Ave. Pacific Palisades, CA.
Design: September 2016
Type: 5 bedroom and 5.5 bathroom new build permanent residence
Area: this project is just over 5,000 sq ft