Walnut Residence | Modal Design

The Walnut Residence is located in Venice, California, a beachside community characterized by small lots (30’ wide x 120’ wide), an eclectic mix of architecture and a unique blend of personality. While the tight square footage of the lot and an existing tree constrained the organizational possibilities of the home, the connection to community, the need for privacy and security, and interest in natural lighting offered endless possibilities.

The 2,700 square foot single family residence draws upon the site and context for inspiration by referencing a specimen pine on site and reinterpreting two other trees removed as part of the construction process. The trunk diameter of the pine is nearly five feet and the canopy over sixty feet across, so it clearly served as the most dominant feature of the site. Since removal was not an option for the clients, the layout of the house was organized around the tree’s location on site; near the back and virtually in the middle. This organization maximized the livable square footage of the house while minimizing the risk of damage to the tree. While the layout and construction of the home as a two stucco volumes were focused on efficiency and simplicity, a second exterior skin offered a dynamic expression of the client’s taste and character as well as an exploration of the sculptural qualities of architecture.

Through a series of folds and water-jet cut perforations, the upper level cor-ten skin serves not only as a metaphor for the trees that were removed from the site, but also as an important mechanism for light control, heat gain/ loss control, and privacy control. On both the interior and exterior of the home, the panels create a dappled light effect similar to the tree’s canopy that change throughout the day and year. On the exterior the panelized skin enlivens the façade of the home through a play of light and shadow and serves as a shade device itself, reducing heat gain on the stucco and glazed shell underneath.