52 DIGS.NET
| 9.20.24
S W E E T D I G S | 2 8 2 1 A L M A AV E N U E
I
t's a central goal of beach architecture
to maximize the number of fresh-air spaces
in a home. To that end, Manhattan Beach
is rich with residences that have numerous
balconies and patios—all the better to link
the area's glorious coastal views and invigorat-
ing ocean breezes with the experience of home.
The result, however, can mean plenty of
exterior spaces clustered along the perimeter
of a house, which can lead to darker interior
spaces within the core of the home.
Along the walk street at 29th Street, fine
architecture firm Brooks + Scarpa devised a
pleasingly different approach to spread nature
and views throughout a 5-bedroom, 6-bath
home spanning approximately 4,000 square
feet. "It's an architecturally significant and
edgy modern home," real estate agent Bryn
Stroyke says of the innovative residence,
completed by PD Construction in 2021.
INNER COURTYARD = ROBUST
LIGHT, COASTAL VIEWS
The contemporary design of the home takes
an inside-out approach—hence its nickname,
The Switch House. Here, life and activity are
oriented inward, thanks to a multi-use glass
courtyard poised in the center of the floorplan,
impacting all three levels of the home.
"Traditionally in a walk street home you have
large decks pushed to the outer edge of the
property," Stroyke explains. "So open spaces
are concentrated along the outer edge of the
property, in order to maximize your view from
those exterior spaces. And what they did at
this house is just the opposite. By pushing the
living area to the perimeter you optimize inte-
rior space views while creating private interior
open patios and flooding the middle of the
home with natural light."
Functioning as the town square of the home,
the central courtyard is framed in large-scale
glass that slides to connect with other interior
spaces. In fact, glass dominates the house,
much of it operable, resulting in a near-con-
stant connection with the outdoors. A surprising
bounty of sunlight and coastal scenes circulate
throughout the home, including Palos Verdes,
the beach and Malibu. "When you open every-
thing," Stroyke says of the residence, "you have
this great indoor-outdoor vibe."
The approach was inspired by the homeown-
er's earlier years, spent on Oahu in the rainforest
above Manoa Valley. "To cool off," she points
out, "you opened a window to catch the Pacific
A
R
C
H
I
T
E
C
T
U
R
E
+
D
E
S
I
G
N
