A small community in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. the Rockefeller Partners Architects has designed the Mandeville Canyon Residence

The homeowners had lived in eight houses in ten years, moving where it was convenient for work, but never finding the perfect location to create a real home. They now have two small children and needed a property where they could work, play and grow as a family.

When the homeowners found a 3.14-acre lot in Mandeville Canyon with over 200 mature trees and expansive views of the city and ocean beyond, they knew they had found the ideal environment. Upon this blank slate they wanted to build a home that would offer their children a place where they could be free to roam, play, and be curious without the constraints or risks that often come with living in an urban area like Los Angeles.

From their experience in the many homes they had owned and rented, the owners craved a home that perfected the balance between form and function, proportion and natural light. They wanted no superfluous space, but rather a well thought-out home where every room had a purpose, and was pleasing and comfortable.

When they learned that three of their favorite houses in west Los Angeles had all been designed by the same architect, and further discovered that this architect had designed (but never had a chance to build) a house for their Mandeville property’s previous owners, they knew they had found their firm.

The project began with the homeowners sharing with Rockefeller Partners a collection of photos and clippings of architectural elements they admired. This was the start of their long education and partnership with us on this singular project. We began with their family activities and lifestyle and the design grew organically outward, resulting is a stunning modern residence that showcases an extraordinary level of craftsmanship and attention to detail.

The early mandate from the home owners was that the house be useful, beautiful and timeless.

This modern residence pays homage to the craftsman architecture of the early 1900s with its originality, simplicity of form, use of natural materials and the visibility of handmade details. Much like its turn-of-the-century predecessors, the design rejects opulence and mass-produced housing elements.