Brosmith Residence

Preferring something warmer and more textural, Brosmith, who had grown up in greater New York, had fond memories of the many wood-paneled houses of Westchester County, which became a key reference point during the design phase.

Using glass paneling and a unique linear plan divided into pods, we blurred the traditional delineation of indoor/outdoor to capture exterior space as living space.

The structural layout of the home is simple: a series of separate living pods flank a central spine, each connected independently and with individual indoor-outdoor courtyard space.

A concourse splits the open floor plan, the garage and living/kitchen areas to the west and the various bedrooms to the east.

Designed to allow different activities and interactions to occur simultaneously without mutual disruption, the pods are arranged around the master bedroom, children’s rooms, office space, and caretaker quarters

At the north end of the site sliding glass panels open from the master suite to an infinity pool, dramatically placed to create the impression that, instead of simply ending, it disappears, tumbling off the lot into the ridges below and the San Fernando Valley beyond.

The exterior is clad in teak plywood, a rich wood used mainly in boat-building, and paired it with an off-white plaster.

Terrazzo was used in the concourse and bathrooms, while a white American oak floor covers all else.

In the master suite a sliding louvered screen uses an aluminum frame fitted with aluminum louvers substituted for glass.

The material choices, coupled with various siting considerations and mechanical design choices, contribute to the project’s overall ethos of sustainability.

Passive design—a green-friendly planning technique used to take advantage of the climate to regulate and maintain a comfortable temperature in the home—was integral to this process.