A purely conceptual project, the Venice Beach House was an idea that Seth Hanley had carried around in his head since 2003, when he first visited this location. There were several vacant lots along the waterfront, but this lot offered an opportunity to test a more complicated design since, being adjacent to a “walk street,” it is open on three sides. “It’s hard not to be inspired by this location,” Hanley says. “I had an immediate and innate need as an architect to create a project for this place.”

This 4,000 square foot, 5-bedroom residence is a celebration of its location that is, by virtue of its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, naturally stunning. The raw vibrancy in the culture that exists along Venice Beach was also a source of inspiration for this project. The contextual architecture surrounding the site informed the structure and feel of the new house; specifically, Design Blitz was inspired by the concrete structures along the paths at Venice Beach that are used for handball courts and seating. The architects translated this into the use of concrete as both structure and finish material for the house.

The six level plan allows for multiple generations to live comfortably under one roof and also provides a home office function.