Richwood Residence | 2025

This hillside residence reimagines the domestic relationship to an upsloping Los Angeles site, inverting the conventional front-back hierarchy typical of postwar neighborhoods. Rather than occupying the street edge, the house is elevated and set to the rear, transforming the front yard into a private, shaded courtyard that serves as the social and environmental heart of the home.

Organized as an L-shaped plan, the courtyard is precisely oriented to frame both sunrise and sunset. Calibrated overhangs temper the afternoon heat while extending the family living spaces outward. The courtyard balances zones of shade and sun with cool, sheltered areas throughout the day alongside a pool positioned for full solar exposure, embodying a distinctly Southern California indoor-outdoor lifestyle.

At the core of the house, the underside of a floating porch off the primary suite sweeps upward to form the ceiling of the main hall, culminating in a luminous oculus at the bend of the plan. Beneath it, a sculptural stair unfolds as a spatial and experiential anchor: rising from a grounded stone plinth with integrated display and descending from an ebony, curved balcony above. The interplay between mass and lightness creates a dynamic void that connects the entry hall, upper bridge, and dining space, where the oculus becomes a focal point for gathering, light, and movement.

Arrival is deliberately understated, approached via a stepped ramp along the north edge beneath a cantilevered volume, reinforcing a sense of procession and retreat. The main level aligns kitchen, dining, and family spaces toward southeastern light and the pool terrace, shaded by the porch above, while more formal living spaces occupy the opposing wing, oriented southwest.

Upstairs, the plan separates into distinct parent and children wings, linked by the central volume of the stairs and oculus. At its apex, a framed view of the Getty Museum emerges across the hillside. Throughout the home, a constellation of skylights modulates daylight, attuning daily life to seasonal and atmospheric shifts, while strategic overhangs ensure comfort across changing conditions.

By synthesizing site, light, and spatial choreography, the residence transcends conventional hillside typologies, offering a living environment that is at once refined, immersive, and deeply connected to its context.

Category:Private HomesYear:2025Location:Los Angeles, California, USAArchitects:Griffin Enright Architects Lead Architects:John Enright and Margaret Griffin Design Team: Eric Staudenmaier General Contractor:Building Worx, Inc.Client: PrivatePhotographer: Eric Staudenmaier