Venice Beach house bridges pragmatism and minimalism

A minimalist Venice Beach house by Los Angeles-based architect Dan Brunn combines pragmatism, functionality and contemporary aesthetics

Venice Beach house by Dan Brunn, showing living spaces looking out towards the ocean
(Image credit: Photography: Brandon Shigeta)

This minimalist beach house in California is the brainchild of American architect Dan Brunn. The house, located just on the waterfront of Venice Beach, is an ode to raw concrete and pared-down volumes, yet was born of pragmatism and functionality; Positively Negative, as the house is named, was created as a direct response to ‘the harsh marine weather and densely packed environment of its location,' says the architect. 

Featuring a narrow frontage and attempting to address a healthy balance between natural light, privacy and outdoor space, the house design was conceived as a series of stacked cubes. The composition is quite complex but also feels at home within Los Angeles-based Brunn's portfolio – the architect is well known for his clean, minimalist, sculptural work. 

Venice Beach house by Dan Brunn, showing doggy looking out towards the sea

(Image credit: Photography: Brandon Shigeta)

The interior follows the same aesthetic, with airy, sleek rooms that feature large windows towards the ocean. The striking, calming, long views enrich the interior, while the openings also ensure all internal areas as awash with natural light. 

‘Fundamental to Positively Negative’s design principle is the choreography of circulation, where the spatial and structural arrangement of the home allows for a vibrantly navigated pace as you move throughout, notably punctuated by the central staircase atrium whose reiterated shape forms a sequence of right turns, descending each level,' says the architect. 

Open, generous spaces are matched by naked concrete, natural materials and textured surfaces, which make for a warm and stylish, contemporary home. Meanwhile, a solar energy system on the roof, along with passive cooling and radiant floor heating, not only secure a pleasant atmosphere for the residents but also make this house environmentally friendly. 

Venice Beach house by Dan Brunn set along the coastal road

(Image credit: Photography: Brandon Shigeta)

Venice Beach house by Dan Brunn in a dusky shot against the beach sand

(Image credit: Photography: Brandon Shigeta)

Venice Beach house by Dan Brunn, showing interior with exposed concrete and sleek white kitchen

(Image credit: Photography: Brandon Shigeta)

Venice Beach house by Dan Brunn, showing dramatic double height spaces

(Image credit: Photography: Brandon Shigeta)

Venice Beach house by Dan Brunn, showing exposed concrete staircase

(Image credit: Photography: Brandon Shigeta)

Venice Beach house by Dan Brunn, showing circulation space with light falling from above

(Image credit: Photography: Brandon Shigeta)

Venice Beach house by Dan Brunn, showing timber clad kitchen and white surfaces

(Image credit: Photography: Brandon Shigeta)

Venice Beach house by Dan Brunn, showing concert double height interior living space with light well

(Image credit: Photography: Brandon Shigeta)

INFORMATION

danbrunn.com

Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).

With contributions from