80th Place
This project involved the remodel and expansion of a post-war Los Angeles bungalow that had reached the limits of its original design. The goal was to extend the home in a way that supported contemporary family life while maintaining clarity, simplicity, and a strong connection between interior and exterior spaces.
The existing house was reworked and expanded to better accommodate a growing family, with an emphasis on openness, natural light, and flexible shared spaces. Rather than treating the addition as a separate element, the new construction is integrated into the overall plan, allowing old and new to function as a cohesive whole. Circulation paths were simplified, and key living spaces were reorganized to improve flow and day-to-day usability.
Indoor outdoor connections play a central role in the design. Large openings allow the kitchen, dining, and living areas to extend directly into outdoor spaces, creating a continuous relationship between inside and out. These exterior areas are designed as functional living spaces, supporting everyday use rather than serving as purely visual amenities. Even when closed, generous glazing maintains a visual connection to the landscape.
Material selection was guided by durability, longevity, and sustainability. Metal siding, composite and recycled wood cladding, and aluminum doors and windows were chosen to reduce long-term maintenance while supporting a more responsible material lifecycle. These materials are resilient, recyclable, and well suited to the Southern California climate, allowing the home to age gracefully with minimal intervention.
Inside, the plan prioritizes shared living areas while still allowing for privacy and flexibility. Ceiling heights and volumes vary to create spatial interest without unnecessary complexity. Natural light is brought deep into the interior through carefully placed glazing and skylights, reducing reliance on artificial lighting and improving overall comfort.
Sustainability is embedded throughout the project, not treated as a separate feature. The use of durable materials, improved building performance, and thoughtful orientation work together to reduce energy use and extend the life of the home. The result is a house designed to endure, both physically and functionally.
This remodel transforms a modest bungalow into a contemporary family home that reflects how people live today. It demonstrates how existing housing stock in Los Angeles can be adapted through careful design, material restraint, and a focus on long-term value rather than short-term solutions.
