Modern Residential Design

Shubin + Donaldson Architects Urban Spa Urban Spa - Shubin + Donaldson Architects have remodelled this house to soak up its Malibu shore front location. Sliding doors and windows allow the residence to be open plan or sectioned off at will. The site elements of the highway and beach challenged, and dispatched with charming results. Program The initial task was to renovate the original 1976 dwelling into a contemporary urban retreat, whilst adding some structural reinforcement. Bought in 2001 for it's location, the owners, together with the architects, went on to extensively remodel the house into an urban oasis. Concious efforts to negate the road behind and emphasise the beach in front are evident throughout. Design The overall concept for this 2,900-square-foot beach-side modern house was to transform it into an urban spa-like retreat. The house is perched along Malibu’s Pacific Coast Highway, and features access to the beach at the back. Sheltering the house and providing ...

Pugh + Scarpa Atchitects Solar Umbrella Model Rebuild - When remodelling their own residence Angela Brooks and Lawrence Scarpa could never have imagined the press and accolades that would be bestowed upon a build designed around their own very personal needs. Economical, solar powered, solar water heating, nearly off the power grid and with a fitting yet aesthetically contrasting extension. A rear extension that embraces the house's 1920's bungalow origins and pays homage to its design sake, the Paul Rudolph Umbrella House of 1953. Overview and Plot The lot, in Venice California, typical of the area, has two road frontages. This allowed the house's orientation to be flipped, the crux of this build. With the living area and kitchen behind now facing the larger rear garden, an additional bedroom was added upstairs, and the second bedroom converted to an office. Most of all, the flip orients the house to the southern sun allowing the sun's energy to be stored in the conc...

Pugh + Scarpa Architects Redelco Residence Re-planned rebuild - A seven year Hiatus meant a rethink to an original Pugh + Scarpa project, that lead to a loft like wonder in Studio City, overlooking the San Fernando Valley, CA. Overview Initially commissioned in 1994, the residence was put on hold by the owner, shortly after demolition and the foundations were set. Seven years on, a visit from the owner to their offices the project leapt back into action for Pugh + Scarpa. But with 7 years of council legislation changes and architectural progress, they pushed hard for a redesign. Thinking it through and mulling over the existing plans, the client agreed, yet within limits. Their task was set Take a remodel/addition to a 1970’s ranch style house, fit it into the new council regulations, keep within the original foundations (to save time ripping up existing work and avoid new applications to the council) and create something befitting to modern architectural philosophy. Their main c...