Remodel and Addition to a Residence in Alta Dena
The Owners of this single-story house in Alta Dena needed more room in and around the house for entertaining on special occasions for their large extended family. Large portions of the house were remodeled and new areas for entertaining were added, specifically a roof deck and basement. The new kitchen is really the center of the house and opens to the rear patio area, which has a spiral stair to the roof deck.
Delivering high quality, effective, and inspiring built space.
We worked with the County of Los Angeles on many different aspects of this house during the planning stage. At one point, we received notice that the basement could not have “habitable rooms” in it, as it was not specifically allowed in the code. We eventually got over this hurdle after many hours of negotiation with the various government agencies. Sometimes we just have to appeal to a supervisor’s common sense to help us do what makes sense for the Owner. Having the Owner involved in the conversations often is very helpful.
Early Scheme for Covered Porch
Although the form of the screened porch changed over time, the concept was there early in the design process. As we developed the project and the Owners got a feel for the space and how it could be used, the use of the screened porch as a linking element for all backyard activities was refined. Click on the Play button to see the video.
What have we done in the project? Details of the project.
The main living areas of the residence are in the original location. The kitchen is now literally and figuratively in the center of the house, with easy access to a breakfast area, dining area, and the rear covered porch. A new Master Bedroom wing was added, along with a guest room. Two more bedrooms round out the living spaces.
The new basement and roof deck have easy access and are tied together volumetrically, yet the private areas of the house remain somewhat removed. There are many types of places in the house for entertaining, resting, watching movies, contemplation, and working on any kind of projects that might arise for school or the many charity projects that the owners spend their time on.
