Abelson Residence, Los Angeles CA

Although legally considered a renovation by keeping the footprint of a modest postwar suburban house, this project totally reconfigured its layout to function more efficiently and take better advantage of a spectacular view.

The living, dining and kitchen areas were consolidated into one space. The master bedroom suite was changed to give it more privacy and its own patio. All were reoriented toward a new lawn and the panorama beyond. The new single slope roof reinforced the spatial orientation, and was also an homage to many mid-century modern houses nearby.

The disadvantage of its location on the edge of a steep escarpment was the extensive structural upgrading required to meet current seismic codes.

The owners occupied the house less than a year before a job relocation. Undersized relative to its allowable zoning envelope, the subsequent owners demolished the project and replaced it with a much larger house.