The Alberta Lofts, Venice beach, Los Angeles housing

The Alberta Lofts in Venice Beach

June 29, 2026

Architecture: Bau10

Location: Venice Beach, Los Angeles, California, USA

Photos: Here And Now Agency

The Alberta Lofts Project replaced an existing 1940’s bungalow with two Single Family Residences in Venice Beach.

Design objective was to create two houses on a 3,140 square foot corner lot with three stories and a roof deck.

Each house has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. The room on the main floor is designed to be multifunctional and can be used as a bedroom, home office or living room on the main floor.

The second floor consists of an open floor plan and serves as a great room with a kitchen, dining and living area, with a fireplace, bench and entertainment center built into a Texan limestone-cladded accent wall.

On the third floor is the master suite. It includes 13 foot vaulted ceilings, bathroom and closet with custom built-ins. A third bedroom with an en-suite bathroom and closet completes the top level. The roof deck above the third floor is equipped with a spa, fire dish, barbecue and outdoor kitchen.

A reflective aluminum composite panel rain screen façade is used on the exterior of the two houses to manifest the modern design.

The shape of the two residences and silver reflective façade is designed to invoke an open hand catching the sun.

Sustainable features include solar water heating panels mounted on the roof, prefinished metal façade, reconstituted wood on all walls and ceiling-hung wood panels and built-ins, ductless high efficient heat pumps, planter boxes for onsite rain retention allowing for harvesting water for irrigation, low energy LED lighting and low water consumption fixtures.

The Alberta Lofts are designed under the small lot subdivision program in Los Angeles. The program is developed for more density especially for small properties to have individual houses being built without any side yard requirements. We interpreted the design with two 3 stories houses with high ceilings and a roof garden towards the Pacific Ocean.

What was the brief?
design of 2 SFR residences, 3000 s qft each

What were the key challenges?
property size 3,400 sq ft

What were the solutions?
maximize buildable area in developing a 3 story concept, including a built out attic and roof deck as an outside area, where the design strategy to design for a mximum of density with integrating an outdoor area