Created for an East Coast-based client who likes to entertain when in town, Breeze Blocks is a Beverly Hills house conceived to show off its contemporary architecture, variety of living spaces, and long, striking Los Angeles views. Its architects, locally based Kovac Design Studio, founded by Michael Kovac, made the most of the brief, crafting a home that effortlessly unites inside and outside, opening up to the vistas through large windows, glass walls and strategic orientation that allows life to spill out to the residence’s manicured garden.
‘[The clients] were seeking to take maximum advantage of the jetliner views and welcoming Mediterranean climate. The neighbourhood’s low-slung modern homes with their cool and evocative detailing that harkened back to the Mad Men-era were to be the aesthetic touchstone for the project,’ the architects explain.
A Beverly Hills house uniting inside and outside
The project’s eponymous breeze blocks – in white concrete that is coloured golden inside – define its identity, appearing as soon as visitors approach the house, flanking the approach to the main door. Their permeable nature means that glimpses of what comes beyond are visible, yet not much is revealed of the goings-on inside, maintaining the owners’ privacy. The openings also allow air to travel through, cooling down the site.
Inside, natural materials including terrazzo floors, bleached oak wood panels, and textured limestone walls make up a palette of subtle luxury and serenity. Soft colour tones ensure nothing distracts from the striking views, while carefully curated art and centrepiece elements enliven the interior. Bespoke features abound in this Beverly Hills house, including the customised breeze block screens; a terrazzo tub; and a Burle-Marx-inspired custom mosaic glass panel in the entrance area.
‘The sun sinks into the blue Pacific and the twinkling infinite carpet of city lights unfolds,’ the architects say. ‘There is no better place to take this all in – an oasis in the sky.’
Information
-
The Emory, RSHP’s first luxury hotel in London, is a rising starNew London hotel The Emory presents the perfect showcase of RSHP’s signature functionalist style and hospitality group Maybourne’s elevated luxury
-
‘Born in Oasi Zegna: The Book’ looks back to the house’s Alpine rootsPublished by Rizzoli, ‘Born in Oasi Zegna’ looks towards the Oasi Zegna natural territory in the Italian Alps, where ZEGNA opened its first wool mill in 1910 and has since fostered a thriving natural ecosystem of more than 500,000 trees
-
The New York art exhibitions to see nowFrom MoMA to the smaller spaces, here are the best New York art exhibitions to catch before in May 2024.
-
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
-
Modernist architecture: inspiration from across the globeModernist architecture has had a tremendous influence on today’s built environment, making these midcentury marvels some of the most closely studied 20th-century buildings; here, we explore the genre by continent
-
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
