Anderson House

This project, the Anderson Residence, is a substantial addition and renovation of an existing dark compartmentalized non-descript ‘40’s era house that is sited directly adjacent to the Santa Monica Airport. With a tight budget to work with, the project directive was to get as much bang for the buck as possible. The programmatic solution for our clients, an enterprising couple with two young children, consists of the existing garage and “Jack and Jill” children’s suite, a new ground floor Guest Bedroom Suite, open plan Living/Dining/Kitchen/Family Room, an upstairs Master Suite and workspace Loft that is open to the stairwell volume. A beautiful existing mature Chinese Elm tree is preserved and incorporated into the design, its branches interwoven with the Entry trellis and upper roof eaves. Windows are strategically placed to capture views of this tree as well as another specimen tree located in the rear of the site. Broad overhangs control direct sunlight while clerestory windows and corner glazing bring in an abundance of natural daylight to the interiors. Daylighting is supplemented with an LED lit “runway” soffit that runs the length of the house. Mechanical ducts run through this soffit as well. The uplifted eaves of the butterfly roof and expanses of glass throughout the house celebrate the surrounding landscape, the sky and the planes taking off from the adjacent airport.