To maximize functionality, Bolden custom built the interior structure, offering a mix of concealed storage and open shelving.
The couple travelled to Japan annually for almost a decade in the 2000s, and took inspiration from the way light was introduced into small spaces. “We are obsessed with the urbanism of Tokyo and how spaces have been designed to capture the light,” says architect-owner Chris Stanley. “We used a lot of those techniques—getting light in from the top and introducing long views—to make the home feel big.”
The blueprints and plans for the project were nearly finalized when Koenig passed away. At the recommendation of Koenig’s wife, Gloria, LaFetra worked with Koenig’s partner, architect James Taylor, to finish the home just as Koenig would have wanted it to be completed.
Architect Pierre Koenig—best known for his glass-and-steel Case Study homes, like the oft-photographed Case Study House #22 in the Hollywood Hills—passed away in 2004 before completing his final residence. The three-level Malibu home was originally a collaboration between Koenig and director/producer Michael LaFetra, who owned the beachfront property and worked with Koenig to bring the structure to life beginning around 2000.