Yard

He worked around existing oak and eucalyptus trees for the new building, and retained the vernacular of an original barn, at right, where Frankel hosts concerts. Check out MVRDV's Balancing Barn.

Exterior

Roble House's elevation allows the structure to be immersed in the dense forest setting.

"There was excitement about the site and the possibilities—that excitement was infectious,

“We restored the fact that it was a courtyard open to the air,” says Slocum. “So when you walk out into the courtyard, if you look up, you're seeing sky.” Textured matte porcelain outdoor pavers from Tilebar surround a tree growing at the center.

The 75-square-foot grilling zone is open to the elements, and so a different approach to heating was needed. The Bromic Platinum Electric heater was chosen for its durability.

The Bromic products have been tailored to heat each zone—living, dining, and grilling—effectively throughout the year. The sleek design of the surface-mounted heaters blends seamlessly with the home.

"Living in your own native Oak grove feels like living in a natural park, and yet the property is conveniently just minutes to downtown Malibu,

The prefab homes are built from a structure of 8-foot-long glulam (a robust, structural material made of laminated wood) sections sourced from Western Archrib.

The pool and surrounding landscape connect the architecture with the wooded park just beyond the yard. “We used the softer textures of ornamental grasses, Japanese maples, and perennial plantings to balance the rectilinear lines of the pool and the house,” says Josh Myers of Myers + Co. Landscape Architecture.

The “Casita” gave the family 1,095 square feet of extra space, and has multiple functions, including flexible space for guests, a home office where they can host firm meetings, and an exercise area with a traditional Finnish sauna.

Raul Garduno and Peter Heiser, undergraduate classmates at the USC School of Architecture, designed this steel-framed house on a Silver Lake hillside in the late 1950s, completing construction by 1960.

The braai area can be used for cooking over the open fire, or lounging in summer or winter, thanks to a built-in couch beside the firebox. “It's such a beautiful place to sit. In the summer when it's warm, I read my book and bring a glass of wine,” says Bonnie. “We are spending a lot of time now in the winter there, too, because it's just so cozy.”