exterior

“The atrium is the first place you enter,” says Leidner. “Traditionally, it’s a hardscaped area with some potted plants, but we wanted it to be more like a full garden, right in the middle of the house.”

In Sunnyvale, California, architect Ryan Leidner cracked open a 1962 Eichler with a crisp remodel flush with foliage. He replaced the home’s vertical plywood facade with one-inch strips of American red cedar set at two depths. The rhythmic slats conceal a garage door that swings open on a hidden hinge. At the entryway, two massive panes of frosted glass shimmer with light and shadow from the atrium inside. Homeowners Isabelle Olsson and Matthaeus Krenn stand out front.

Local wood, laid in a herringbone pattern, forms the rooftop terrace.

A six-inch-thick concrete slab forms the sturdy roof, which doubles as a terrace and viewing platform. Since the client is the only person who uses the home, he opted not to have railings—but exercises plenty of caution when heading up to view the stars and smoke his cigars.

Landscape designer Kenneth Philip worked with mwworks to fill in the forested setting.

The home features a flat roofline, and it’s composed of stained red cedar, concrete, and basalt—materials that weather well and blend seamlessly with the land.

In the entrance, a team with the general contracting firm Martha uncovered an abstract mural that Engels painted himself and then plastered over. He also made the geometric door handle. Simon speculates that Engels sourced the marble, found all over the house, from Expo ’58, after the pavilions had been dismantled.

Set on a 9,875-square-foot lot in the Alta Canyada neighborhood of La Cañada Flintridge, California, the Squire House offers a look at Pierre Koenig's early work. The master modernist built the home in 1953 before completing his famed projects, Case Study House No. 21 and 22.

On a hillside in Los Angeles, architect Clive Wilkinson created a three-story home for himself, his wife, Elisabeth, and their children.

“The way these villas blend with the environment gives a taste of what sensitive coastal development could be,” says PAT. architect Andrea Veglia.

Villa 3, seen here, is newly connected to Villa 1 by a series of stairs and walkways. At the request of one of the new owners, who had previously established a Montessori school, it includes an educational playroom for kids. Like the other villas, it also features guest quarters and a pool.

At night, the windows and second floor patio make the building glow.

The building's crisp, white facade nods to the neighboring white stucco homes that were constructed in the 1920s and 1930s. The elongated arched windows give the exterior a 1920s Art Deco feel.

A move to Palm Springs gave designers Joel and Meelena Turkel the opportunity to imagine a new home for their family of four using the same prefabricated systems they’ve developed for clients.

Hemlock cladding covers the front of Eric and Sondra McVeigh’s home in Phoenix.

The Norcross Residence is perched on a hillside in the Eagle Rock neighborhood north of downtown Los Angeles. Built in 1960, the single-story home was designed by architect Bruce Warren Norcross as his personal residence.

The Cora House’s configuration maximizes views, while its siting limits environmental impact. Bonnifait + Giesen Atelierworkshop, the firm that designed the structure, retained the mature trees on the property.

After an unprecedented year of earthquakes, hurricanes, and fires, a bright light has been shed on the benefits of building with concrete.