La Ventosa
“The Windy Place,” located in historic Lincoln Heights, occupies a dramatic promontory overlooking the Los Angeles basin. The original structure, built in 1890, is a Pyramidal Victorian set amidst an aging garden of century old Olive, Pepper, and Palm trees.
The site commands striking views of the skyline, harbor, San Rafael Hills, and is frequented by the Sundowner and Santa Ana winds.
Over the years, the residence was subjected to various cobbled additions that were left in severe disrepair and had made the home programmatically impractical. The new architectural intervention can be read as an enhancement to the site, transforming the home into a mechanism that utilizes the site’s distinct climactic forces to create a comfortable environment.
The new form thoughtfully supplements the existing with added bays and porches that engage the landscape. Weathered Redwood louvers, reminiscent of those of early 20th century sleeping porches, envelope the façade, serving as instruments of shade and air circulation. Transom windows, a common 19th century light technique, are used to link the original structure with the new addition by allowing daylight to penetrate and bounce deep into the space.
A large, cantilevered corner opens towards views of Echo Park and the Hollywood sign
A view looking down from the addition to the original 1890 structure
Sycamore shutters serve dual purpose at bathroom vanity
Eucalyptus panels flank a niche at the guest bathroom
Children's room with hand-painted paneling
hand-made Mexican bricks terrace the path leading up the house
Located on a corner lot within historic Lincoln Heights. The neighborhood, which rests among a series of foothills and mesas above the Arroyo Seco and Los Angeles River, was once home to many of the city’s original...Summit House