California residence

Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher

The brief called for a single-family home located at the top of a residential development overlooking the Pacific Ocean. A new, contained synthetic topography is imposed on the existing site to shield the structure from adjacent homes. A perimeter fence contains the dynamic roof opening where private and family spaces are grouped emphasizing the ocean views.
The structural geometry responds to this internal dynamic with a polar distortion in plan and section. This allows for the incorporation of all structural elements into a single seamless skin with unobstructed ocean views and clear access to the exterior courtyard and interior landscape.
Mainly following a parallel axis from the distant shoreline, the main areas of the house are distributed linearly along a porous gallery.
Vertical ramps and connections spill into this linear space, opening up multiple internal readings and, above all, allowing for relative flexibility with respect to the programmed activities. The traditional notion of family life is injected with a new dynamism that responds to the particularity of the site and emphasizes a light materiality with respect to the structure.
The same dynamic character is applied to the main facades where the structure is treated as fabric, expanding and contracting depending on use and environmental criteria.
The materials are wrapped on the roof, opening a habitable depression that serves as a second elevated terrace. A double landscape data encloses the architectural object that limits the overall geometry to limited variations in height. This single volume contracts with the neighboring structures, critical of typological notions common in most American suburbs.

CALIFORNIA RESIDENCE [CALIFORNIA, USA]
2003 TBC
PROGRAM: private residence
ARCHITECT: Design Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher
Associate Member: Kenneth Bostock
Project architects: Claudia Wulf, Elke Presser
Design team: Christos Passas, Barbara Pfenningsdorf, Daniel Fiser, Tyen Masten,
Marcela Spadaro, Theodora Ntatsopoulou
CONSULTANTS: Structural and Systems Engineers: Buro Happold Consulting Engineers Inc. Los Angeles
Lighting Consultants: Isometrix Lighting + Design Ltd.
Facade Consultants: Front Inc New York
AOR: Public I Architecture + Planning
SIZE: Area: 12.880 sq. ft.
Site Area: 20.091 sq. ft.