Architect: Martin Fenlon Architecture Location: Hermon, Los Angeles, CA Area: 620 s.f. Project Year: 2015 – 2018 Photography: John Linden
This description depicts a contemporary residence characterized by a wooden facade that lends it a sleek and modern appearance. A grassy courtyard further adds to the natural beauty of the property’s surroundings.This photograph captures the exterior of the house, showcasing its contemporary architectural design.This photograph depicts a set of stairs that lead up to the entrance of a house.This photograph offers a view of a house as seen from a balcony.This description depicts a view of the living area from the courtyard, with a couch positioned on the wooden flooring, seen through the open expansive sliding glass door.This photograph showcases the exterior of the property, highlighting the outdoor living area that seamlessly blends into the surrounding courtyard.This description portrays a living room that features a couch and a flat screen TV, as seen from an external viewpoint.An exterior shot which portrays a living room and a glimpse of the roof deck railing, as seen from an external viewpoint.An exterior shot at nighttime, which portrays a living room and a glimpse of the roof deck railing, as seen from an external viewpoint.An interior shot of the living room filled with furniture, with a view of the outdoor area.This image captures the dining area with a wooden table and chairs, with a glimpse of the kitchen area.A particular portion of the house featuring its dining set of chairs and wooden table, and a skylight placed over it.A photo from the top of the staircase that is flooded in natural light from the skylight above.A focus shot featuring the architectural design of the wall of the house.The bungalow remodel plan.The attic conversion, stair hall addition and storefront demolition plan.The family room and yard addition plan.The first floor plan of the house.The second floor plan of the house.The north elevation plan of the house.The south elevation plan of the house.The west elevation section plan of the house.
Once a crowded property with an aging bungalow and a commercial storefront, this live/work complex accommodates the architectโs growing family and practice. The expansion to the recently remodeled bungalow includes a new family room, exterior courtyard and deck, an attic conversion and stair hall.
The storefront building, with its several bootleg additions, previously took up half of the site, exceeding the allowable floor area for the property and leaving little open space. In order to make space for the new yard and the 620 square feet of additions to the house, over 600 square feet of the storefront was demolished.
To keep costs down, the architect did all of the construction with the help of a two-man crew over the course of almost 5 years. After the initial bungalow remodel, the attic was converted to a habitable floor consisting of a new bedroom and den. In order to provide access to these new rooms, a compact stair hall was added to the side of the house which leaves a minimal footprint.
The ascent up the new spiral staircase is flooded in natural light from the skylight above while connecting to the new exterior deck below. A spacious family room was added between the house and storefront, connecting the two and forming the new courtyard. The new roof deck, built atop the family room addition, is also accessed by the new stair hall.
The family room and stair hall are clad in the same materials as the original house remodel; torched cedar, clear cedar and white plaster. The expansion transitions the original house to the new yard and existing storefront, making one integral with the other. It maintains a separate identity from the original house and storefront while obscuring the boundaries of inside and outside.
