Located on the site of an existing house, which was demolished to make way for this approximately 15,000 sq ft contemporary villa, Faring Road House is a sophisticated modern home fit for its glamorous location in Los Angeles' Bel Air neighbourhood. Designed by East London-based architecture firm Quinn Architects, headed by Laurence Quinn, the house sits on a generous sloped site looking towards the Hollywood Hills.
Luscious gardens surround the white-rendered property, helping to shield it from prying eyes. Its tranquil surroundings were in fact one of the key elements that informed the team's design decisions. Say the architects: 'A detailed soil survey was commissioned to understand the below-ground condition of the hillside, which then became a catalyst for both the architectural, civil and structural design'. Now, the home's carefully landscaped gardens include a tennis court and a sunken gym.
A dramatic route leads the visitor up from the street entrance to the building's front door. A cascading stone staircase guides to the house. It highlights 'a sense of arrival', explain the architects. The considerably-sized structure is spread across three floors, peering from the site's natural slope, white-walled and lined with contrasting dark American black walnut flooring inside.
The high-ceilinged interior features living, kitchen and dining areas, three bedrooms, walk-in wardrobes, office space and a games room. The main living accommodation spans 7,000 sq ft, which is matched by 6,500 sq ft of open terraces that include an infinity pool and jacuzzi. Large openings overlook the terraces, while a guest suite located next to the main house offers an extra three bedrooms.
A key point in the client's brief was for the house to accommodate the display of a significant art collection, which made the strategic use of light seminal to the architectural solution. Employing skylights, clerestory windows and gallery level lighting, Quinn and his team have created a space with the right balance of natural and artificial lighting, a perfect home environment for their art-savvy client.
A cascading stone staircase leads visitors to the house, highlighting 'a sense of arrival'
The main living accommodation spans 7,000 sq ft, which is matched by 6,500 sq ft of open terraces that include an infinity pool and jacuzzi
The considerably-sized structure is spread across three floors, white-walled and lined with contrasting dark American black walnut flooring inside
The high-ceilinged interior features living, kitchen and dining areas, three bedrooms, walk-in wardrobes, office space and a games room
Long sofas emphasise the proportions of the living area
A key point in the client's brief was for the house to accommodate the display of a significant art collection
A marble-clad stairwell is lined with customised recessed lighting
In addition to a generous master suite, the property boasts six other elegant bedrooms
Mature trees create a natural boundary around the residence, shielding it from prying eyes
The home's carefully landscaped gardens include a tennis court and a sunken gym
An existing home was demolished to make way for the 14,500 sq ft villa
-
Bar Spero, in Washington DC, nods to the playful nature of Spanish cuisineBar Spero is a Spanish seafood bar and grill designed by Streetsense and led by chef Johnny Spero
-
Colourful card game wins Design Museum’s Design Ventura competitionAnnual design competition Design Ventura was won by students from The Piggott School, who created a fun I Spy-inspired card game
-
Tour a Chilean pavilion perched on the coast: a sanctuary for sleep and star-gazingAlgarrobo-based architecture studio Whale! has designed a Chilean pavilion for rest and relaxation, overlooking a nature reserve on the Pacific coast
-
Shigeru Ban’s mini Paper Log House welcomed at The Glass House'Shigeru Ban: The Paper Log House' is shown at The Glass House in New Canaan, USA as the house museum of American architect Philip Johnson plays host to the Japanese architect’s model temporary home concept
-
Ray Phoenix to rise in ArizonaRay Phoenix housing project launches, designed by Johnston Marklee, who worked with Lamar Johnson Collaborative, for property experts Ray and Vela
-
A low-energy farmhouse provides a rural escape in North CarolinaThis low-energy farmhouse is a net zero architectural re-set for a Californian client, an East Coast relocation for a more engaged and low-key lifestyle
-
A Petra Island house rises from Frank Lloyd Wright's original drawingsBased on Frank Lloyd Wright drawings, the cantilevering Petra Island Massaro House, located in New York’s Hudson Valley, is now open to visitors
-
An Upper West Side apartment by General Assembly nods to its historyAn Upper West Side apartment in New York, born out of the reimagining of two neighbouring units, is refreshed by General Assembly for a young family
-
New York's Leica store echoes the brand's blend of heritage and innovationLeica store throws open its doors in New York's Meatpacking District, courtesy of Brooklyn based Format Architecture Office
-
Hudson Valley Residence is a low-lying retreat that seamlessly blends into the horizonDesigned by HGX Design, Hudson Valley Residence is a scenic home offering unobstructed views across the Catskill Mountains in Upstate New York
-
Boise Passive House’s bold gestures support an environmentally friendly designBoise Passive House by Haas Architecture combines sleek, contemporary design and environmental efficiency
