Hill House, a Pacific Palisades residence designed using the shape of the hillside it was built on, recently received a Merit Award from the American Institute of Architects, California Council (AIACC). The house, located at 338 Chautauqua Boulevard but overhanging Sunset Boulevard above Rustic Canyon, was designed by Palisades architects Mark Lee and Sharon Johnston. The husband-and-wife team head Johnston Marklee & Associates, a firm that takes pride in creating ‘architectural environments in unexpected atmospheric conditions.’ Built in 2004, the Hill House is a strikingly spare but elegant residence with panoramic views of the Santa Monica Mountains and Santa Monica Bay. ‘It has earned a NextLA Honor award and garnered accolades for its precedent-setting and inspiration for new projects,’ noted Palisadian-Post Staff Writer Nancy Smith in a February 17, 2005 Lifestyle feature. The AIACC, in partnership with energy performance experts at Savings by Design, recognize excellence in architecture and design by selecting recipients of the annual Design Awards competition. This year’s national jury included: Monica Ponce De Leon (Office dA Inc.), Margaret Griffin, AIA (Griffin Enright Architects), Jeffrey Lee, FAIA (PBC+L Architecture), Raymund Ryan (Carnegie Museum of Art) and Robert T. Steinberg, FAIA (Steinberg Architects). Three Honor Awards and 12 Merit Award recipients were named from more than 370 entrants. According to the jury, many residential entries were exquisite and would have qualified as award recipients in other state or national competitions. However, because of California’s spectacular residential spaces, the awards entrants faced exceedingly tough competition. Project Description: This 3,300-sq.-ft. house was designed under challenging conditions generated by building on a hillside. On an uneven downward slope, the irregularly shaped lot offers panoramic views to Santa Monica Bay. This project sets a new precedent for hillside building by liberating itself from various restraints, including Los Angeles’ hillside ordinances, building codes, coastal regulations and design board restrictions. This liberation is achieved not through evasion but by strategically transforming stringent building criteria into a sculptural and efficient design solution that seamlessly engages with the surrounding site. The structural assembly is composed of concrete, steel and timber. The foundation, based upon nine, 35-foot deep reinforced concrete piles, is anchored into bedrock and tied together by a network of grade beams. ‘A braced steel frame with timer infill framing emerges out of the concrete base to form the circulation core and cantilevered overhang at the entry. The placement of windows optimizes the usage of natural light and prevailing ocean breezes for natural ventilation, helping reduce energy consumption. Large sliding glass doors in the living area can be opened completely, erasing boundaries between interior and exterior. The placement of skylights in both the flat and sloped roofs further blurs the conventional distinction between roof and wall.’ Jury Comments: ‘The entire jury liked the sculptural qualities of this home. It is a most impressive project. A true analysis that results in form.’
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