Seeking a modest footprint Californian residence much like their existing New York City penthouse loft, an actor/director/producer couple asked Mutuus Studio to bring their project to fruition in a particularly challenging sloping parcel of land in Hollywood Hills.
In terms of inspiration, Seattle-based Mutuus Studio took cues from European castles, particularly the Irish ones. With the main entrance at the top of the site, one crosses a wood and steel bridge across a secret garden before reaching the threshold just beyond a monumental bronze door. Down a flight of stairs, guests are introduced to the primary living area, an “homage to the sense of arrival to a great hall.”
Here, the all-glass façade offering a breathtaking Los Angeles panorama is but one of the space’s highlights. A heavy metal gear-and-chain-operated pivoting window, a nod to the tradition of medieval Irish castles, is a natural conversation starter. When cranked open, it leads guests to the east terrace, a secondary dining room, and the swimming pool area at the bottom of the hill. A double stair separates the floor plan into private and public quarters.
Throughout, the Hollywood Hills House blends industrial chic aesthetics with old-world interiors. The material palette is kept elemental, using in-situ concrete, antique fumed oak floors, blackened steel and brass accents, and stained cedar siding. The home is peppered with an eclectic collection of objects and furnishings that reflect the clients’ interest in travel and design: African masks, a willy Daro bronze table, plush caramel leather chairs, and a Finn Juhl dining set.
With its intriguing mix of old and new, and its commanding presence on top of its Hollywood hills perch, this home embodies California living.
Photography © Kevin Scott