Spotlight: Mar Vista Residence, 2021 GRAY Awards Finalist

A closer look at Mar Vista Residence, one of five finalists in the 2021 GRAY Awards Residential Architecture category.

Mar Vista Residence

From the street, the Mar Vista Residence offers some compelling contrasts. The elevation is grounded by a plastered privacy wall, while the home’s second floor floats beyond it. Slim cedar louvers break the otherwise solid, symmetrical façade, allowing a screened view through the upper level; their lightness and verticality balance the horizontal massing.

Taking inspiration from Scandinavian design, the material and color palettes of subdued tones, natural materials, and the openness to the outdoors contribute to the home’s coastal feel. Balanced by warm tones in stonework and décor, the interiors are a serene and grounded environment in which to live and entertain.

Inside and out, the home balances solids and voids with both hard edges and soft textures. The entry is intentionally sequenced: visitors pass through a louvered gate and arrive in an intimate courtyard

landscaped with a single gingko tree that creates a moment of decompression and a chance to connect to the home before entering the foyer.