From a Bel Air hillside, the Lantern enjoys sweeping panoramas stretching from the towers of downtown across the LA basin to the Pacific. For this extensive remodel of a single-story 60s era residence, the careful revelation and framing of these dramatic vistas became our point of departure.
Visitors arrive to discover a composition of stone, glass, and plaster volumes defining a landscaped motor court. The project’s namesake is the lone vertical element in the scene - a translucent, glass-clad stair tower. Its glowing vertical expanse doubled in a shallow reflecting pool, the tower contrasts with the adjacent masonry masses and links these earthbound forms to the wood-clad box hovering above.
Upon entry, the solid north elevation gives way to spacious interiors that meld seamlessly with the landscape beyond. Eleven-foot-tall glass walls ease out of sight, erasing the southeast corner and opening the living areas to the pool, gardens, and city views beyond. Stone piers provide a human-scaled rhythm along the south elevation and support a delicate trellis that shields the interiors from direct summer sun.
Photo Credit: Lars Frazer, Mark Singer