Strand House

STRAND HOUSE / A FAMILY HOME FOR GENERATIONS

In the 1940’s, the client’s grandparents, a farming family from the central valley, bought a plot of land on the beachfront in Hermosa Beach, and built a home to escape the summer heat. On half the land they built a beach bungalow that has been used by this same family for four generations and is still in constant use. The adjacent lot next door was included in the family property and had remained vacant, until recently when third and fourth generation members of the family decided to build another home on it. For decades the growing family rented other accommodations to gather for reunions, and the empty lot was used by the family for outdoor dance parties. The new Strand House adds new and exciting space for the family to congregate in and create new memories.

This is a story about two family homes, side by side, and how architectural typologies and forms have evolved over time to respond to a particular site, climate and lifestyle.

Common to the area and in keeping with the architectural era in which it was constructed, the beloved original house is a traditionally styled two-story home with individual divided rooms connected by halls, and a series of separated windowpanes that break up the ocean view. A later addition added a master suite in the rear with outdoor access.

In contrast, the newly constructed 3500 sq. ft. Strand House has a flowing open plan, spacious living / dining mid floor, and glassy façade that opens to capture ocean views from Malibu to Catalina. The flat roof maximizes living spaces and allows for three floors, providing uniquely different views from each floor. A beach garden provides a buffer to the activity on the Strand and a place to park bikes and store surfboards.

The clients project goals included a low maintenance home that would stand up to frequent use from family and friends. A reasonably modest budget was set, given the coveted location, which is a front row lot on the Strand in Hermosa Beach near the pier and an easy walk to numerous dining venues. The clients’ requests included a low maintenance home with a minimum of 3 bedrooms, and light spaces with views and access to enjoy the beach lifestyle. The clients ruled out expensive stone veneers, and a wood due to its maintenance issues in a marine environment. The plan was to spend the budget wisely on good quality windows and a cost-effective plaster exterior.

The interior designer with whom the clients had remodeled a home in past, helped compose a shortlist of five architectural firms in the LA area to consider for the project. The clients and designer met the firms and toured their projects. The challenge was to find a firm that could work with a limited budget and maximize the potential of the site and building envelope.

The clients selected XTEN architecture, and they performed beyond expectations, with creative solutions that met the client’s criteria and maximized the views and space planning. The result is a 3500 sq. ft. home with 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and an attached guest unit. XTEN also assisted in the selection of a builder who worked professionally despite the difficulties posed by the COVID pandemic. The home was completed including furnishings in 2021.

The architects devised a beveled façade that edits views of the adjacent buildings and provides privacy and shading for the main deck. The distinctive origami like folded planes frame the glassy facade and give the simple form elegance and personality. The three floors provide distinctly different interior experiences. An elevator was included to access all floors as the home needed to serve multiple generations.

The first floor includes the garage, entry, a guest suite and bath, a “beach room” that opens directly to the beach garden and the activity on the Strand. It functions as a “guesthouse” with entertainment room and has indoor and outdoor showers for beachgoers.

The second floor includes the open kitchen, BBQ deck, powder room, dining room, living room and main deck. Large panels of obscure glass positioned mid-way in the space frame the stairwell, define the dining room and illuminate the space. From the living room an edited view of sand and waves captures the pier structure and an iconic blue lifeguard tower. The front deck hovers above the Strand creating convivial connective atmosphere with passersby. A procession of dog walkers, joggers, skateboarders, rollerbladers, and cyclists pass from stage right to stage left in a view that seems almost like a film.

The upper floor contains 3 bedrooms with ensuite baths, and an open-air hot tub deck for stargazing. High above activity on the Strand, the two front bedrooms have picture windows which present a peaceful “Sugimoto” view of sand, sky and water. The third bedroom enjoys its own private deck, with palms and urban rooftop views.

The home’s interior is purposely minimalist and utilitarian; a light airy space to gather, play, dine, and enjoy the casual recreational pleasures of the beach lifestyle. The main flooring is oversized ceramic tile the color of wet sand for ease in maintenance. The kitchen counters are stainless steel for durability, and the cabinets are a rustic planked oak. The same limited palette of materials is used on the bedrooms in the upper floor, introducing wide plank oak flooring for warmth underfoot, and the same planked oak cabinetry for textural interest in vanities and closets.

The furnishings are selected for casual style, comfort and durability. The client’s preference for la light palette was addressed by selecting all indoor-outdoor textiles, to repel water. The sculptural Sydney sofa echoes the architectural planes in the façade and has removable covers that Velcro off for cleaning. The dining table and coffee table are Fenix, an innovative material that does not fingerprint and “self-heals” from small scratches. The barstools, dining chairs and lounge chairs are all upholstered in waterproof and stain resistant leather. Chairs swivel for flexibility, allowing for sunset views or fireside conversations. White painted walls form a backdrop for the client’s lively, colorful artworks, which focus on works by female artists from Los Angeles.

To the delight of the family, design team and builders, “Strand House” recently received a prestigious award for residential design from the AIA LA. It also recently was awarded the 2022 American Architecture Award for residential design which includes projects by American architects worldwide. The project was featured online for the above awards but has not been published in any shelter magazines or periodicals currently and is featured only on the XTEN website.

Architecture by XTEN / Monika Haefelfinger / Scott Utterstom/ Daniel Feig / Isabel Deakin

Interior designer / Jorie Clark Design / Jorie Clark

Construction / John Maurer / Ivan James Development Inc.

Client’s name withheld pending consideration of publication

Photos are not for duplication pending photographer’s release