Linda Pollari and Robert Somol, Architects ; Off Use House, 2001. Here at the Southern edge of Hancock Park, in the intimate Brookside neighborhood, this iconic Los Angeles landmark has withstood the test of time, and continues to excite even the most discriminating of design enthusiasts. Everyone knows the house at Highland and Olympic, with its distinctive horizontal form, corrugated metal siding, and drought-tolerant landscape, but few people know the surprise within. With its back to the street, the fortress-like wall provides both a visual and aural buffer against the busy intersection, but inside the home opens up almost unbelievably to embrace a kidney-shaped swimming pool and Palm Springs-inspired landscape that runs the length of the property. Floor-to-ceiling Fleetwood sliders dissolve the boundary between inside and out, allowing each room to flow and become one with nature. The juxtaposition is compelling, with hard-edged orthogonal architecture married to an organic curvilinear garden to form a unified yin-yang composition. Polished concrete floors, steel-trowel plaster, a stacked stone accent wall, and exposed structural steel provide a timeless contemporary aesthetic, while vertical grain fir, hand-made tile, and abundant natural light soften the experience and ensure livability. An 18-foot long ribbon window transforms traffic into a continuously changing cinematic event. A spacious master suite at one end opens to public spaces in the middle, with an open floor plan connecting living, dining, and kitchen. In front, the architects' former studio has been converted into two separate bedrooms by the current owners, who presently use one as a home office. High-end stainless steel appliances and European fixtures round out an elegant encounter. Published widely, from The Los Angeles Times to Architectural Digest.
This property is off market, which means it's not currently listed for sale or rent on Zillow. This may be different from what's available on other websites or public sources.
