This four-story residence in the Pacific Palisades is designed as a sequence of experiences that unfold from street level to an expansive 2,000-square-foot roof deck overlooking the Los Angeles Basin. The project is sited to capture uninterrupted views from the coastline to the city skyline, while also creating layered spaces for retreat, reflection, and intimate daily life.

The architectural expression is defined by clear geometries and restrained materiality. Concrete planes, timber screens, and glass volumes are composed to produce a sense of weight and lightness in equal measure. Vertical openings draw light deep into the building, while broad horizontal gestures extend sightlines outward across the basin. Landscape elements weave into this composition, softening the edges of terraces and linking the residence to its hillside context.

Circulation is central to the organization. A sculpted stair connects all four levels, functioning both as a light well and as a spatial anchor. This vertical movement culminates in the roof deck, where the architecture opens fully to the horizon. Designed as a platform for both quiet observation and large gatherings, the roof establishes the house as a frame for its surroundings—a place to experience the shifting atmosphere of Los Angeles from day into night.

At the primary living level, the pool serves as a defining feature. Positioned as both a recreational element and a spatial device, the pool extends the architecture outward, reflecting sky and landscape while grounding the house in water. Its surface creates a dialogue between stillness and activity, amplifying the panoramic views while offering a space of immersion and repose. Outdoor terraces around the pool are designed as a series of rooms—dining, lounging, sunken seating—that invite both social interaction and private retreat.

Throughout, the residence is organized to create a rhythm between openness and enclosure. Large glazed areas establish expansive connections to the city and ocean, while carefully framed thresholds provide moments of intimacy. By day, light and shadow animate the interiors, shifting with the arc of the sun. By night, the house becomes luminous, projecting its presence outward while maintaining a sense of privacy within.

The Pacific Palisades residence is not defined by a single gesture, but by a sequence of atmospheres. It supports both grand and modest modes of living—events and solitude, outlook and introspection—anchored by a balance of material precision and spatial generosity.

Interior Design: www.thebureau.design

Landscape: www.orca.com

Visualization: www.f10studio.com

Lighting: www.kevinjflower.com