Stephen Phillips, FAIA, Ph.D., Architect | Tree House, 2022

Set within a naturally lush green setting in the Bel Air Canyon hillsides of Los Angeles, this complete renovation restores the integrity of an abandoned 1959 Bill Mack designed home with unique contemporary artistic flare. Through surgical replacement of its original wood structure, windows, doors, and decking, the renovation aimed to maintain the best of the original building's detailing, while sensitively adding new cabinetry, doors, windows, floors, tiling, structure, and guardrails throughout. By combining traditional Vertical Grain Douglas Fir, Redwood, and Cherry with more contemporary stone, stainless steel, and metal materials this modern home has become more in tune with contemporary building technology and design culture. Sustainable practices include the addition of dual-glazed windows, insulation, mini-splits, electric car chargers, and all new Viking energy star appliances. Additionally, all new LED/Halogen recessed lights alongside classic and contemporary LED fixtures by Poul Henningsen, George Nelson, Verner Panton, and Bjarke Ingels create a striking atmosphere inside and out. A faded 1970s supergraphic on the front facade also proved a great inspiration. In keeping with his former employer's William Turnbull's and Charles Moore's design aesthetics, Stephen Phillips, the owner/architect of this renovation, studied the graphic designs of Barbara Stauffacher Solomon to create a new image for the front facade. Alongside a similarly matching shear-patterned custom water-jet aluminum guardrail, the new supergraphic proves the hallmark of a fresh new vibe for this small family's contemporary, yet quintessentially mid-century modern, LA tree house.