Coming Saturday, Sept. 12, we’re inviting you into some of the most interesting examples of L.A. modern architecture!

Presented in association with

DATE: Saturday, September 12, 2015
TIME: 11:00am – 5:00pm
COST: $30 Online in advance, $40 Day of
LOCATION: See map below.
TRANSPORTATION: Self-driving, Self-paced

Advance tickets are on sale through FRIDAY, September 11 at 8:00 PM for $30 each. Tickets purchased after that time MUST be purchased at any of the tour homes beginning at 11:00 am on September 12  for $40 each. Children 12 and under are free.

Featured Homes

A – Santa Monica, CA

Architect: Thane Roberts AIA
Photography: Sarah Boyles & Martin Cox (1 & 2), Kevin Roberts (3 & 4)

The property sits atop a hill in Ocean Park that provides ocean views and sea breezes. To the rear and side are 3-story apartment buildings that resulted in the homes “L” shape for privacy. The house has a 20’ side-yard with pool and gardens that provide private views from all rooms. Nested between the house and pool is a full-scale replica of the owner’s yacht on which he made a 9-year circumnavigation. The house was designed to transition the owner from his life aboard to one ashore. During the voyage, it became clear the extent to one connects with one’s natural and social environment, one’s life is enhanced. It was the goal of the design to continue to engender that same connection but this time ashore with his new family. In a similar fashion to a boat at sea, the house provides its own electricity, heating and cooling with solar energy and wind. There is also a greenhouse for growing food and a roof system for rainwater collection.

B – Manhattan Beach, CA

Architect: Cozen Architecture & Lighting, Carolbeth Cozen, AIA

Situated on a beautiful sloping lot in Manhattan Beach just one mile from the Pacific Ocean, the Stephanus house was designed by Carol Cozen, AIA, renowned for her innovative, intuitive style.

Coming from their classic Mediterranean home, the Stephanus Family sought a cutting-edge, unique, sustainable residence. Their new home is warm, layered with stunning, sophisticated materials – concrete, stone, glass, wood, and zinc – and underscores extraordinary ocean views.

The sleek design incorporates eclectic living spaces that converge to create a functional, synthesized home. The chef’s kitchen, office pavilion, poolside volleyball court, and metal + glass bridge leading from the master bedroom to the master bathroom exemplify the luxuries offered in this sophisticated home.

Cozen is the principal of Cozen Architecture. Her work has been featured in many publications including southbay HOME, Luxe, House Magazine, Western Interiors, Home, and LA Magazine, and she is the recipient of many significant architecture and design awards. Founded in Los Angeles in 1994, the firm designs both residential and commercial properties with an aesthetic ranging from traditional to modern.

C – Venice, CA

Architect: Yu2e Inc, Bill Tsui
Photography: Taiyo Watanabe

This is a new single family dwelling on a typically tiny property in Venice Beach. The tight condition provides little separation from neighbors or relief from the busy street right-of-way. The home is crafted as a direct response to this urban context. The front and central yards are seamlessly weaved together with the ground floor living areas via transparent and operable facades and minimal structural obstructions. In addition to providing broad views out to the coast and into the neighborhood, roof decks are included and located to alleviate building mass and supplement adjacent yards below. Rooflines are folded up to maximize exposure to natural light. Windows are wrapped around corners to blur the exterior limits of rooms. These tactics collectively free the house from the uncomfortably close proximity of its surroundings. By modulating the degrees of privacy, the space effectively substitutes the claustrophobia of urban living for an airy, light and stress-free coastal lifestyle.

D – Venice, CA

Architect: Hamilton Architects, John Hamilton

A major remodel of a vintage Venice bungalow.

E – Venice, CA

Architect: OPENHAUSdesign, Claudia Wiehen
Photography: Brandon Michael Arant

Tucked away from the Venice crowds is the Silver Triangle neighborhood. There, a couple and their young toddler found a 950 square foot bungalow on a 3600 square foot lot and imagined a home perfect for their needs. The neighborhood was growing ever more popular, and it was clear that a well considered remodel would not only provide wonderful use value, but also add smart resale value.

The clients approached OHD with a clear vision- they wanted the home to respect the character and scale of the neighborhood, with an emphasis on indoor/outdoor living. The owners did not want a box and their house did not need to maximize the allowed floor area.

To fit their family of three, the clients envisioned a second floor, but the owners’ budget required OHD to develop creative solutions. All new construction was not an option and OHD recommended a plan that maintained 75% of the footprint of the original home. Walls and footings remained, but the interior space was entirely reconfigured to connect the front yard with the back yard. OHD proposed using different façade materials to blend old portions of the house with new construction, and the clients were enthusiastic about creating a minimal/modern look complemented with warm materials.

OHD faced another challenge with the existing hip roof, which prevented the architects from easily opening up the interior. A simple slope roof replaced the original. This not only allowed for easy contact with the flat roof on the new additions, but also permitted high ceilings and skylights that maximized daylight.

Mindful of maintaining scale, OHD and the clients preserved further space by using a stackable car lift for the required two-car garage. The garage width was reduced from 20 to 10 feet and this allowed a living space with consistent width that connects the front yard to the back yard functionally and visually. The finished home is a 2245 square foot 2 story house with 3 bedrooms, 2.75 baths, a den, and a spacious first floor living/dining/kitchen area. Large pocket patio sliders complete the indoor/outdoor feel and create excellent passive airflow, allowing the clients to enjoy the Venice ocean breeze.

F – Manhattan Beach, CA

Architect: Christopher Kempel, Rockefeller Partners Architects
Photography: Eric Staudenmaier 

Located off a walk street with views of the Pacific Ocean and Malibu coastline, this residence is an exercise in careful space planning. Working within the confines of a narrow 30 x 90-foot envelope, the design team pushed the house to the limits of height, width, and depth, which left little perimeter space to satisfy the client’s desire for a garden.

The solution was to create an open green space in the center of the structure, at the ground floor level. On one side of this are the children’s rooms, on the other are the master bedroom and bath, which open to what has become an interior Zen garden.