34 DIGS.NET
| 10.2.2020
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P R O F I L E | A S S E M B L E D G E +
THIS SINGLE-STORY
HOUSE IS COMPOSED
OF THREE PAVILIONS
CONNECTED BY A
SERIES OF GLASS
HALLWAYS.
W
hen you are an architect and you
tackle the challenge of designing
your own home, it can easily become
a little bit of an obsession. "It was extremely
difficult to spend time not thinking about the
project," confesses David Thompson, principal
and founder of Assembledge+. "It permeated my
every waking moment. But I loved every minute
of it." Composed of three pavilions connected by
a series of glass hallways, the 4,900-square-foot
single-story residence, largely shaded below the
surrounding tree canopy, is a true oasis in the
heart of Los Angeles.
Located in the foothills of Laurel Canyon, the
project offers the architect, his wife Jamie, their
two daughters Lyla and Zoe, and dog Georgie
a secluded and inwardly focused experience
against a majestic backdrop of lush and mature
trees seen through large windows, skylights
and pocketing doors that let in abundant natural
light. "We had been looking for an opportunity to
acquire property that would afford us to be more
connected with nature," says Thompson. "We love
being outside and wanted to be able to extend our
living experience into the landscape." The fluidity
between areas, he adds, "has been designed for
uninterrupted entertainment and creates a harmony
of transparency and lightness."
The use of simple and unaffected materials
including western red cedar, darkly painted cement
board and glass help to merge the architecture
with its context. "The glass bridge connecting the
guest and living pavilions makes metaphorical
reference to geological history, spanning bridge-
like across an old creek that once ran through
the property," Thompson notes. "The slight grade
-David Thompson
"We love
being outside
and wanted
to be able to
extend our
living experi-
ence into the
landscape."
