CHIA MIN  WANG 

The 2,200-square-foot residence is located on a hillside site in Malibu, California with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. The existing post-and-beam home in need of structural, programmatic, and environmental upgrades was re-envisioned for the 21st century. The existing roof geometry is accentuated creating a language of faceted surfaces. A grand entry door fabricated with a stainless steel tube frame marks the threshold into the relatively small house. The 10-foot-high door makes use of a hydraulic pivot and concealed magnetic locking device. The articulated volume of the building’s front façade extends indoors to define the interior spaces, resulting in a dematerialization of the roof, wall, and floor planes, framing the extraordinary views of Santa Monica Bay.

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The minimalist, gallery-like, interior living space is designed to accommodate our client’s extensive collection of contemporary art. Display niches, lighting, and spatial configurations are all intended to enhance the experience of viewing and interacting with the artwork. Each of the stair’s cantilevering steel treads has a custom laser-cut pattern. The skylight filters light through the perforated stair, projecting an ever-changing texture of shadow and light, enlivening the walls and floor. The perforations, hollow stairs (evident from below), and missing handrail (facing the living space) make the stairwell appear to float in space. A half-height glass wall, surrounding the landing at the top of the stair, underscores this effect.

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