Explore Strata House, the perfect Bel Air party pad
KOVAC ’s Strata House is a contemporary eyrie in Bel Air with plush interiors and jaw-dropping views over Los Angeles

Strata House, set on a promontory in the heart of the Santa Monica Mountains, is a glamorous villa perfect for entertaining. Its author, Californian practice KOVAC, has form in the matter, with previous projects encompassing a similarly panoramic breeze-block house in Beverly Hills and a holiday home ideal for parties in La Quinta’s fabled Madison Club.
Tour Strata House by KOVAC
Surrounded by oak trees and greenery, the sprawling hilltop residence, now topped with two delicate cantilevers clad in shou sugi ban (charred timber), takes its name from the many layers of history found on site, which was once home to a 1960s structure by modernist architect John B Parkin.
‘Our goal was to craft a dwelling that would honour the property's pedigree and surrounding landscape while marking a new chapter better suited to its current owners,’ say the architects, Michael Kovac and Thomas Schneider. ‘Spacious areas give way to moments of warmth and intimacy within the house, which bridges the roles of family home and entertaining venue.’
An old stone base references the site's longtime evolution and provides a foundation for the home's glass-walled pavilion. ‘The space serves as the main focus piece for the entire ensemble,’ say the architects. ‘While this portion of the house was fully retrofitted to suit current building codes and energy efficiency standards, we very carefully and deliberately maintained its essence from the original 1960s Parkin house.’
The glazed pavilion, now housing a sunken lounge, is accompanied by a theatre and bar area, with services spaces and storage at the back, and stairs leading up to the bedrooms, library and an office complete with its own terrace planted with Japanese maple.
Downstairs, the lower-ground floor houses the entertaining space, including a dining room and lounge, as well as an en-suite bedroom, all with stunning views over the swimming pool terrace and the Los Angeles cityscape beyond (away from the view and into the hill are a gym, spa and wine cellar).
‘The Brazilian terrace, with its slab wood covered table, lounge area and bar appears to be everyone’s favourite space to hang out and gather in a casual area that is in close proximity to the gym and pool,’ say the architects. Another favourite is the rooftop terrace, a hidden oasis with a firepit and banquette seating surrounded by a green roof planted with soft grasses.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Midcentury glamour is the inspiration behind the elegant interiors, which feature ‘Groovy’ and ‘Ribbon’ chairs by Pierre Paulin, vintage Eileen Gray tables and ‘Djinn’ chairs by Olivier Mourgue. A ‘Sputnik’ pendant light takes centre stage in the bar area, while the dining room features custom walnut wall panelling.
Another influence is 1970s style, which shaped spaces such as the upstairs family lounge and the kitchen breakfast nook. ‘We took inspiration from 1970s op art, for example Victor Vasarely, colours by Verner Panton, and futuristic furniture from the film 2001 A Space Odyssey, among other sources,’ say the architects.
Kovac Design Studio is currently working on a series of residences in Southern California, Utah, and Manhattan, as well as on an inspiring cultural and educational centre for a not-for-profit biking organisation, which is intended to be used as part of the 2028 Olympic games to be held in Los Angeles.
Léa Teuscher is a Sub-Editor at Wallpaper*. A former travel writer and production editor, she joined the magazine over a decade ago, and has been sprucing up copy and attempting to write clever headlines ever since. Having spent her childhood hopping between continents and cultures, she’s a fan of all things travel, art and architecture. She has written three Wallpaper* City Guides on Geneva, Strasbourg and Basel.
-
The 'Moonbeam' lamp makes light use of leather
A new range of table lamps by Six N. Five is a delightful novelty for Poltrona Frau for Milan Design Week
By Hugo Macdonald Published
-
All hail Jil Sander’s first foray into furniture
At Milan Design Week, the venerated fashion designer unveils a respectful take on a tubular furniture classic for Thonet
By Nick Vinson Published
-
Panconesi’s first series of sensuous design objects are just as covetable as the jewellery
Marco Panconesi borrows from his distinctive jewellery language when creating nine pieces for the home
By Hannah Silver Published
-
We explore Franklin Israel’s lesser-known, progressive, deconstructivist architecture
Franklin Israel, a progressive Californian architect whose life was cut short in 1996 at the age of 50, is celebrated in a new book that examines his work and legacy
By Michael Webb Published
-
A new hilltop California home is rooted in the landscape and celebrates views of nature
WOJR's California home House of Horns is a meticulously planned modern villa that seeps into its surrounding landscape through a series of sculptural courtyards
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The Frick Collection's expansion by Selldorf Architects is both surgical and delicate
The New York cultural institution gets a $220 million glow-up
By Stephanie Murg Published
-
Remembering architect David M Childs (1941-2025) and his New York skyline legacy
David M Childs, a former chairman of architectural powerhouse SOM, has passed away. We celebrate his professional achievements
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The upcoming Zaha Hadid Architects projects set to transform the horizon
A peek at Zaha Hadid Architects’ future projects, which will comprise some of the most innovative and intriguing structures in the world
By Anna Solomon Published
-
Frank Lloyd Wright’s last house has finally been built – and you can stay there
Frank Lloyd Wright’s final residential commission, RiverRock, has come to life. But, constructed 66 years after his death, can it be considered a true ‘Wright’?
By Anna Solomon Published
-
Heritage and conservation after the fires: what’s next for Los Angeles?
In the second instalment of our 'Rebuilding LA' series, we explore a way forward for historical treasures under threat
By Mimi Zeiger Published
-
Why this rare Frank Lloyd Wright house is considered one of Chicago’s ‘most endangered’ buildings
The JJ Walser House has sat derelict for six years. But preservationists hope the building will have a vibrant second act
By Anna Fixsen Published