12.18.2015 | DIGS.NET 87
When Robert Sweet was asked to design an up-to-date residence on a lengthy, slender
South Bay lot, where a late-1920s home once stood, he decided to start wholly anew.
"We took the original home down to the foundation, with maybe a one perimeter
wall," he says, "then recycled the foundation to the new house to keep some of the
lineage of the original structure." The end result is a smart-looking Modernist place
that skillfully encases open-air gathering spaces and pipes in sunlight via strategically
placed windows and skylights, plus a central courtyard.
"Most of the lots in the South Bay are relatively narrow, but this one was exceptionally
long," notes Sweet. At the front, the home is all smooth, angular stucco, but move
along and you'll find hearty, cedar-plank cladding along the generous private
courtyard—carved from the interior and onto which all public rooms open. The
courtyard is replete with dining and lounging spaces and primed for year-round
use by way of a radiant floor system. A snack counter, an outdoor shower and a
fireplace—the latter built from patio bricks used in the former home—are charming
outdoor touches, while inside, perks include a sauna and steam shower.
ASKINNYLOT
BECOMESANOASISOF
FRESHAIRLIVING
WHERE Manhattan Beach, CA
WHO ras-a, inc.
PHOTOS by Chang Kyun Kim, courtesy of ras-a, inc.
