Laney LA

Describe the featured project.

Recognized for its scalloped concrete walls, this residence embodies an exploration of organic erosion and subtraction. Its concrete massings anchor every elevation, entering and exiting the home at poetic intersections. Like cliffs carved from water, the scalloped walls display the faint grain of the formwork that shaped them. The larger massing of the property consists of a base void that acts as an armature for living. Through large, pocketing doors and double-height spaces, there is a sense of expansion within as the home unfolds into a landscaped, outdoor terrace and pool. With its panoramic ocean views and echoes of that element within its own walls, the architectural language of this structure speaks to a beauty shaped by the impermanent.

In what ways is this project a representation of your work?

Generous collaboration is an intrinsic component of our approach and process, for we believe this is what is at the core of our creativity. How can collaboration be generous? We think of it as an open hand and ear—one that lets go of authorship and pride and listens closely to others, regardless of their formal role. In the case of this special project, we are grateful for the many hands and voices that made an impact in bringing to life every detail of the home: the powerhouse contractor team at Silicon Bay; the tastemaking teams of Tim Clarke Design Studio and Waterleaf Interiors; the concrete wizardry of David Shaw Concrete & Block; the exquisite doors and windows of Otiima; and the elevated architectural photography of Roger Davies. Every successful project is thanks to the summative work of many, many contributors. This project is no different and all the better for it. What are some impactful ways that architectural design makes a difference in how we live?

Architecture, when at its best, doesn’t just augment a lifestyle. Rather, it reveals the beauty in everyday moments. For example, one’s morning coffee ritual can be enhanced by a home’s orientation toward eastern light and western views. But more subtly and importantly, architecture has the power to make even the passing of time something reverential. In every season and at every time of day, there is a changing interplay of natural light and shadows on wood paneling and textured concrete that is timeless in beauty and temporal in its elusiveness. While it may sound small, these dynamics transform and elevate a lifestyle.

Team photographed by Fabien & Laura Castro | Project photographed by Roger Davies