MI-CA HOUSE

THE MI-CA RESIDENCE COMPRISES THE EXTENSIVE RENOVATION OF AN EXISTING ONE STORY VENICE STUCCO BOX AND THE ADDITION OF A SECOND FLOOR. THE CLIENT AND ARCHITECT’S FOREMOST INTENTION WAS TO TRANSFORM A NON-DESCRIPT DARK, JUMBLED AND CLAUSTROPHOBIC SINGLE-STORY INTERIOR INTO AN ORGANIZED AND LIGHT-FILLED TWO-STORY LIVING ENVIRONMENT THAT IS OPEN TO OUTDOOR SPACES AND VIEWS.

THE ARCHITECT’S PENCHANT FOR BRINGING CLARITY AND RESOLUTION TO RESIDENTIAL REMODEL PROJECTS WAS MANIFEST HERE WITH A FEW DEFT DESIGN MOVES. AN EXISTING BATHROOM AND WATER HEATER CLOSET BECAME THE GENESIS FOR THE DESIGN’S SERVICE/MECHANICAL CORE. A STAIRWELL THEN RUNS ALONGSIDE THIS CORE TO THE NEW SECOND FLOOR. THE ORIGINAL HOUSE’S HIP ROOF IS INVERTED; PREVIOUSLY TURNED-DOWN EAVES NOW LIFT UP OPENING UP THE INTERIORS TO THE SKY AND NATURAL DAYLIGHT.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DISCRETE INTERIOR AND OUTDOOR SPACES IS MODERATED BY A SERIES OF SLIDING GLASS DOORS. ON THE GROUND FLOOR, THE FRONT CORNER OF THE HOUSE SLIDES OPEN TO THE FRONT YARD LANDSCAPE AND PATIO. CONVERSELY, AN INVERTED CORNER SLIDING DOOR ASSEMBLY OPENS THE HOUSE TO THE REAR-FACING SECOND-FLOOR DECK. THE SLIDING ENTRY DOOR IS ACCESSED FROM THE APPROPRIATED SIDE YARD DRIVEWAY. SINCE THE TIME PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS HAVE GROW IN TO FURTHER DEFINE THIS PROCESSIONAL PATH AND FURTHER SEQUESTER THE FRONT PATIO.

ARCHITECT AND CLIENT COLLABORATED TO CREATE AN INTENSE MATERIALITY THAT IMBUES THE INTERIORS WITH RICH TEXTURAL AND TONAL QUALITIES. ONCE COMPLETED, A WALNUT WOOD CLAD STAIR WALL WILL ADD TO THE DENSITY OF THE HOUSE’S MATERIAL PALETTE.