The Client desired an addition to her residence located in Laguna Beach. The existing residence consist of a two-car garage at the front of the property linked with a bridge to the main house. The main house consists of three levels, where the main entry level is split to an entry level about 3’ above the remaining main level. The lower level contains the bed rooms, and basement contain the FAU. The Client desired to expand the house’s lower level to permit an increase in sq ft and creation of an addition family room (foyer). She didn’t like the any of the existing floor plan and would like to see a change in movements and more open scape. She also desired the moving of the kitchen from back of the house to the front at the main level so she could enjoy the view to the beach as she utilize the kitchen. She had many concerns about security as she enters the house from the garage, the current location of the wood deck linking the outside to the bridge is located in a dim and heavily vegetated area leading to excluded deck behind the garage where she isolated and at risk. The current garage location and house didn’t permit her to see who is at the front door in a direct eye sight. Also, broad casted a concern in carrying groceries into the house and distance needed. She also needed a continuous movement from the bridge to the basement and second floor without the entry of the house.

Other program Criteria

The house is located on a steep hill edge, where it doesn’t allow to expand the garage level much more the current foot print. The garage is very simple in design and it is the only portion of the house that shows from the street. The view from the house enjoy a 270 degree of spectacular view that is under utilities by the current design.

Main Level: The house entry point in to the main floor is closed by the walls and partitions and staircase, in which limit the view of the beach upon entry. The Deck at the main floor need an expansion to further capture the view to the beach. The main level holds the only entry to and from the house, thus more entry and exit point need to be added

Garage level: The garage was to be split by a ramp, into two separate garages. Where such ramp will end with a curtain wall door allowing the visitor to be view directly from the kitchen and the house. The expansion will consume the already existing wood deck, thus maintain in the general foot print of the existing garage and side walk way. The garage to become a means of egress and movement for the entire site, thus, a set of stair case within the west side of the garage to drop to the walk way leading to the new swimming pool. The east side garage to have a stair case toward the bottom of the ramp for a direct access to the bring rather than going out of the garage and maneuvering around the structure. Since the Laguna beach are famous for art, a art monument at less than 6’ high was placed in front of the ramp to give an entry coverage to the ramp and to house the house number. The monument represents water, earth, and structure serving as an introduction of the house and what lies behind the garage. The back of the garage curtain wall to cast a link to the main new house design, and bring artificial light to the bridge and serve at a light house at the end of the property.

Main house exterior: A series stair cases and ramps was develop to articulate the movement from the bridge to the deck behind the house permitting the enjoyment of the site surrounding once hidden behind the house. The circulation will continue to the lower level in which is now linked to the bridge. Continuing to a point of entry at the lower level roofed by the bridge create significant to the bridge as the bridge is now being identified as a main element. The bridge itself will experience modification to enhance the look and feel, where the railing will replaced with Glass railing as the house decks and hardscaping yet uniting the bridge with the rest of the house. Also, the back wall of the bridge will be enhanced with smooth white stucco treatment to match house and the garage contemporary design.

Main House: the Glass Curtain wall to house the new Kitchen and Foyer( Living room) at lower level, allowing a clear light object to project from the smooth stucco house with wood trim. Such inclusions of material lighten the box mass house and bring it to life. The design as client desired to be contemporary to link back to the garage with that same green roof metal material and curtain walls and establishing the units of site structures. The diagonal bracing support located at basement and once was hidden behind the stucco layer, are now exposed. Such to give the sense curiosity to continue moving to the basement level and experience the outer surface of the house, that was once ignored and left un attended to. The wood trimming to link the house different level vertically and link back to the garage.

Garage envelop: The envelop to introduce a CMU wall as new material only at the garage to keep it’s identity and retain the contemporary design. The roof was split and reverse to emphasize the ramp underneath, where the new roof gives not a vertical high at the edge of the garages and gives more picture view at the west side car garage, that is intended to house trophy car. The ramp now has the ceiling that steps away in height as the ramp elevate down.