Credits
From ALLTHATISSOLID
Cronus House is a modern additional dwelling unit situated in a predominantly Asian and Latinx residential neighborhood in eastern Los Angeles. The massing design of this rear 2-unit home contends with an existing garage, a small lot, and the clients’ desire for increased income. In this context, Cronus House maximizes livable area which includes a ground floor unit and a second atelier nested within the gable attic of a new roof. This modest design celebrates LA’s aspirations for a sustainable future in high density living.
With three households on one lot, both the architecture and landscape plays with notions of boundary and threshold. The hardscape of the yard between the two detached structures is marked off with concrete diagonals, a striking graphic that encourages communal sharing of outdoor space. The existing garage discourages daily parking and is left open as a terrace, whose negative shape completes the pure triangle of the gable. To access the upstairs unit, a sculptural stair is suggestively tucked away at the rear of the garage or terrace. Interior details continue to flirt with the perception of boundaries. Terrazzo inlaid tiles are shaped by door swings. The master bathroom is open to the bedroom and the wet zone of tiles are co-planar to the plywood flooring. Even the vanity mirrors are placed to the sides so that window openings welcome in sunshine and air. The medicine cabinet hinges out to provide mirror reflections if needed. Constructed on a thrifty budget, Cronus House is a humble yet charming argument for density in Los Angeles that is modern, playful, and unassuming.