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P R O F I L E | E L E C T R I C B O W E R Y
it is a quintessential tip of the hat to the
Southern California indoor-outdoor ideal
(those immaculate paths, that strapping
stone, the bursts of emerald-green growth
expressing such a wistful, laissez-faire
feel). In a purely architectural reading,
though, it is a series of carefully calcu-
lated design decisions taken to make the
Venice Beach abode as graceful and
unblemished as possible. That's work.
But the beauty of the building is that "work"
is the last thing one sees—one does not
even think to look for it in a house that is
in such clear and elegant rapport with
its surround. And yet, as seamless and
flowing as the Victoria Residence might
appear, it could not be a more deliberate
piece of architecture for the designers
who endeavored to create "a home that is
crafted and composed artfully, as a back-
drop for the client's own artistic pursuits."
To that end, it is a bit of a masterpiece.
electricbowery.com
the clients' enthusiasm for the principles
of Wabi-Sabi, the Japanese philosophy in
which perfection is found in imperfection,
Electric Bowery introduced elements with
understated yet visible variations. As the
studio puts it, "The overall palette"—one
highlighting custom millwork of bleached
oak and an ebony finish with subtle indigo
tones, paired with a classic consideration
of hardware and lighting fixtures—"is
designed to feel as though every mate-
rial is handcrafted of earthen, natural
elements." The most obvious of these
components is the exterior travertine walls
that help knit together indoor and outdoor
spaces while creating a warm, textured
backdrop for the landscape.
That landscape is the definition of urban
oasis—lush, tranquil, and cool with
a robust representation of plant life,
including two large olive trees and one
exceptionally large Jacaranda. In one
largely aesthetic reading of the space,
40 DIGS.NET
| 11.17.23
