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The 2,200 SF low lying single-story home steps lightly down the site from north to south, following the natural grade of the land to minimize grading and honor the spirit of neighboring Ojai ranch houses.
Currently Under Construction
A two bedroom home for a couple near the beach in Los Cerritos
The renovation to a 19th century Italianate brownstone for two filmmakers aims to respect, not replicate, historical precedents, while replacing the undersized kitchen with an open 21st century arrangement. Better aligned with the scale of the house, the expanded kitchen has an enhanced connection to the garden and is transformed to a space that allows the pair to collaborate.
Visual access to light and the life of the garden was foregrounded while the mess of cooking and cleaning is out of sight from the house entry. Function and an expansion of storage options to display art and select objects, while concealing other items, determined the general layout as well as specific cabinet details. Customized cabinetry was designed and crafted to maximize ease and functionality, as well as address the owners’ request for a balance of exposure in the kitchen.
Obscured glass fronts at semi-open cabinets and between rooms contribute another visual layer as rippled glass transmits light and color from the kitchen through the bathroom to the entry hall animating adjacent spaces with constantly changing, abstract vignettes.
Natural materials with a sensitivity to physical and visual texture, were a priority for all finishes. Cabinets with carved solid wood handles and leathered stone countertops encourage touch, while visually stimulating glossy tiles in pixelated grays reflect and bounce light. The new kitchen floor adds a pattern to the existing language of parquets throughout the house. The composition of the kitchen floor in natural oak echoes historic textures as well as contrasts the smooth, dark wood cabinets. A rich color palette composed of dark teak wood, lacquered display boxes in ochre and burnt sienna, with a sky blue ceiling is balanced with neutral cream and sepia stone, cloud white walls and a light oak floor.
An extensive renovation to a vintage 1906 San Francisco single-family house with a complete remodel of kitchen, bathroom and upper bedrooms, with a new bathroom added at the second level. Architectural interventions to the existing Eduardian house were designed to expand the existing small dark spaces with natural light and provide greater connection to the outdoor space. The alterations were enlarged openings by subtraction from the existing envelope and structure of the building rather than extension beyond original walls or roofline. New millwork crafted of mahogany along with the consistency of simple, limited, repetitive materials throughout the project both unify the new elements and offset them from the historic fabric of the house. An integrated finger pull detail as well as recessed doors used in the kitchen and bathroom cabinets reference the original paneling and add a contemporary textural, tactile experience. Another solid wood finger pull variation at the bedroom cabinets seamlessly integrates closet doors into the room as the apparent wall paneling conceals deep storage cabinets.
For the 1928 North Carolina farmhouse, the clients wanted to update kitchen and bath areas to add color, expand natural light and add storage to spaces that felt dated and poorly utilized.
The kitchen serves as the social hub of the house as well as the primary entry. The clients wanted to create a comfortable spot for gatherings with friends. The cooktop sits on the island facing a long bar with stools for easy, relaxed entertaining in this highly social household.
Design goals for the aging kitchen were to update cabinetry, add storage while
maintaining existing appliance and opening locations, and brighten the space with durable, highly functional cabinets.
Color became one of the most important elements of this room. There is a subtle play of light as the upper light and lower dark grey colors change throughout the day. Vivid green tile, blue lacquered display areas for artifacts collected during travel, and crisp white stone countertops are both functional and animate the bright kitchen.
Without expanding the small bathroom beyond its existing walls, the goal was to create a bright, highly functional space for soaking with maximum
storage. To bounce light and add color, we chose iridescent glass tile containing metal flecks. A barn door, along with open and closed storage excavated from within the wall, and a drawer embedded in the tub surround maximize storage opportunities.
For an update of the exterior of the house, the clients opted for a palette of lavender and four coordinating colors.
Odessa Architecture collaborated with a family of five on a full renovation of this Ranch / Courtyard home. Situated among fruit and oak trees, expanded openings and multiple new patios add light and connect the interior spaces to the site.
MODEL SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
Washington D.C.
The Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD) at Gallaudet University is a 160 bed dormitory for both boys and girls living together in one building with two separate wings connected by a shared lobby. The interior finishes have been selected and organized to create a homelike atmosphere that supports ease of communication and intuitive navigation for Deaf students that inhabit the spaces.
Completed in collaboration with Dangermond/Keane
Washington, D.C.
Fay and Ballard Houses, formerly part of Faculty Row on Gallaudet University’s campus, underwent major renovation to be re-transformed into dwellings after decades of use as University offices. The two houses each provide residence for 12-15 deaf students and one teacher, with a communal lounge, kitchen and study on the lower level and bedrooms on the upper levels. The interior design strategy was to insert modern amenities in obvious and select locations while preserving the historic Victorian houses, and to employ the principles outlined in the DeafSpace Guidelines for color, finish and furniture selections.
Washington, D.C.
Gallaudet University, the nation's foremost university for the deaf and hard of hearing recently completed a master plan which included building new dormitories as well as upgrading the common spaces of all campus residence halls. Working within the DeafSpace guidelines developed at Gallaudet, we strived to create greater integration for the residences halls both between each other and to the Olmstead-designed campus, as well as expanded connections within the discrete halls for enhanced interaction and connection.
Completed in collaboration with Studio 27
STM Department of Science, Technology and Mathematics, Gallaudet University
Washington DC
The STM department at Gallaudet University, located in Hall Memorial Building, underwent a complete renovation and update to all laboratories, classrooms, collaborative spaces and academic offices. The 63,000 sf project reworked the top two floors of the 4 story building including an opened atrium with a communicating stair. Interior design throughout the project was dictated by DeafSpace design principles. Color design, furniture form, scale and arrangement, materiality and surface texture and pattern, as well as vibration are used with careful consideration to enhance and support Deaf ways of well being.
Completed in collaboration with Studio 27
San Francisco California
A complete residential remodel of a single floor Victorian house into a two story spacious home. The redesign developed an uninhabited attic space to add three new bedrooms, a bathroom, a long storage wall, skylights and a stair from the first floor. The main level renovation included a new kitchen, dining room, office and laundry room, as well as complete refinishing of all interior surfaces. The house possesses the rare urban attribute of a fully detached house with natural daylighting at all four sides. The entire long north side of the house was opened with the addition of new windows and skylights to add more natural light. A new hydronic heating system powered by solar panels upgraded the existing, limited heat, while completely new plumbing and electrical systems were added. A new two-bedroom rental unit in addition to an office were developed in the former basement while maintaining the garage at the front side.
VITRA FURNITURE SHOWROOM
San Francisco California
Located in the north waterfront in an historic building, the showroom is on two levels with an open plan designed to allow maximum flexibility in displaying furniture. A large platform meets the display window allowing pieces to be seen from the sidewalk. A glass wall laminated with mesh screen allows privacy in a meeting room, while allowing views, and light to filter through. The long lit wall slot allows for a miniature furniture display.
Completed in collaboration with Briggs MacDonald
HAL RINEY PUBLICIS AD AGENCY
San Francisco California
The complete interior renovation of a 120,000 sq. ft. corporate office space for a 450 person advertising firm. Services included overseeing all aspects of programming, design, construction documents and construction administration.
The original building was built in the early 70's, with broad views of the San Francisco Bay and North Beach. The three 40,000 sq. ft. floors each had 8' foot high acoustic ceilings with perimeter offices, all of which blocked light to the interior public areas. The renovation turned that order inside out, placing the offices on the core, providing natural light to all public areas. The acoustic ceilings were removed, exposing the concrete ceilings above, adding 3 ft of additional ceiling height in the open areas. Drywall was striped off the columns and perimeter walls.
Careful coordination of the mechanical, data, and lighting systems provide a clean, open workspace. The program included nine conference rooms, a large catering kitchen, media-labs and control rooms for multi-media presentation spaces.
Completed with EHDD Architecture
