Michael Chen, Tomer Fridman, & Adam Rosenfeld of CompassIn California, the Coast Live Oak tree is a protected species. Although the strict regulations for these trees don't normally alter one's daily life, they did heavily impact the design decisions for Los Angeles–based firm Walker Workshop when crafting a house on a 3.5-acre property with more than 130 Coast Live Oak trees. Yet, rather than look at the trees as a limitation, the team strategically integrated them into the layout of the stunning, 8,000-square-foot abode—which just hit the market for a cool $32 million.
Sited on a ridge that looks out to panoramic canyon views, the massing of the residence—formally known as the Oak Pass Main House—was reduced using an "upside down" program with five bedrooms buried into the hill beneath a green roof, and common areas located above.