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.

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Perched in the Oakland Hills on a double-sized 13,000 sq. ft. multi-layer lot overlooking San Francisco Bay, the award-winning Margarido House exemplifies outstanding, sustainable design. Over 4,600 sq. ft. on two levels, the new five-bedroom, five-bath masterpiece features designer finishes throughout, and an open floor plan that takes full advantage of the breathtaking views.

The Margarido House is 55 percent more energy efficient than California’s Title 24 energy standards. The home features extensive green building components such as eco-friendly Western Red Cedar siding, a planted green roof garden and deck, on-site rain and ground water reclamation, in-floor hydronic heating, and solar electric and solar thermal (hot water) systems.

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The King Residence is a 4,300 square foot single family residence located in the Sunset Park section of Santa Monica, a neighborhood originally developed to house workers from the World War II era McDonnell Douglas Airplane Factory. About one mile from the beach, the structure houses Matt and Erin King and their two children.

Situated on a gently sloping, wedge-shaped corner lot, the design rejects the standard public front yard/private backyard typology, opting instead for a structure whose living spaces and bedrooms open onto a relatively large exterior patio/garden/entryway that faces the public streets and surrounding houses.

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Charmed since it first took shape on the high cliffs of Laguna Beach nearly a century ago, the incomparable Villa Rockledge was the vision of Frank A. Miller and Arthur Benton, the developer and architect of Southern California’s famous Mission Inn resort in Riverside. Built on a spectacular site Miller had owned since 1887, the estate was created as a gift to his wife, Marion. He called it Mariona.

The main house features 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 9 fireplaces, 2 kitchens, 2 balconies and 2 libraries. Almost every part of this stunning residence is created by hand — from the thick cement foundations and retaining walls to the rustic stone towers, large open oceanside porches and ornamental chimneys. Each leaded glass casement window, heavy beam, hand-sanded mahogany floor, wrought iron railing and masterpiece timework was alike. Villa Rockledge is on the National Registry of Historic Places.

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Asian Style Inspired House with Great Indoor-Outdoor Relationship.Birnam Wood Residence in Santa Barbara, California is a design which was born as a combined vision of the architect and the client of living within a village. It’s inspired by travels to Asia and personal connections with Asian culture. A series of pavilions that form the home also give the possibility of the great indoor-outdoor relationship. 5400 square feet are covered by these pavilions.

The gardens and pond become an indissoluble part of this home and function as an extension of its living space. The entire house functions as an interactive art piece, showcasing art collected on journeys, and reflecting the client’s desire to live within a sculpture. [Berkus Design Studio]

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